Cirrus SR22 N555MN

Summary

On 16 October 2004 at about 21:10 local time, a Cirrus SR22 registered N555MN was involved in an accident near Port Austin, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 October 2004 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Austin, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Grindstone Air Harbor Airport (29C)

Coordinates

44.0478, -82.9142

Aircraft

Cirrus SR22

Registration

N555MN

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Troy → Port Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05CA007

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's excessive airspeed during landing resulting in the airplane exiting the end of the wet turf runway. Factors were the wind gusts, the wet grass, the reported airplane braking not being possible on the wet grass, and the impacted fence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a fence when the airplane departed the end of the wet turf runway during a landing. The pilot stated, "I was returning from [Oakland/Troy Airport] and was taking the airplane to [Grindstone Air Harbor Airport (29C)]. The airplane is normally based at [Huron County Memorial Airport] and I was advised on 10-14-04 that our hanger space wasn't going to be available so it was decided to take the airplane to 29C to put it in the hanger. While beginning to prepare to land on the airport's runway 18, I took note of the wind and direction and determined it alright to land although I knew I was going to have to land a little faster than normal because of the gusty winds. On final, nearing landing and at treetop level of the western runway boundary, I encountered a wind gust from the southwest that made me add power. When I recovered, I had picked up about 5-10 kts of more airspeed. I continued to land because I was now close to the runway. Once I touched down and rolled out a little bit, I began to touch the brakes. I noticed that the plane was wanting to skid, evidentially because the grass was damp. I began to get concerned whether there was going to be enough runway to finish the landing. I was also concerned that there may not be enough runway left to takeoff due to gusty winds and power lines at the end of the runway. I than chose to remain committed to the landing and began heavy braking that was resulting in skidding. I now had to decide if I was going to continue toward the runway end fence, or the hanger or an unlevel farm field that parallels the east side of the runway. I decided to steer for the fence and I pulled the mixture to [Idle Cut Off] and then shut off the fuel. Just before the left wing hit the eastern runway end fence, I turned the battery switches off."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.