Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in a long landing and an overrun of the runway. Factors were the weather conditions (sky obscuration, low ceiling, fog and drizzle) at the time of the accident, and the wet runway conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The commercial pilot was flying a vor/dme approach. Sky conditions were partially obscured, ceiling 100 feet, visibility 1.25 miles, with drizzle. The pilot reported that he broke out of the weather at minimums, and landed the aircraft about 1/2 to 2/3 down on the 5,000 foot runway. Braking action on the wet runway was insufficient to stop the aircraft, and the aircraft overran the runway. The aircraft collided with a fence, then impacted trees at the airport boundary. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft.
Source record
Factual narrative
On January 26, 1994, at 0910 central standard time, a Cessna 310A, N5333A, landed long and overran the runway at the Dyersburg Municipal Airport in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was owned and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated in Springfield, Illinois at 0730 cst. The pilot reported that he broke out of the weather at minimums, and landed the aircraft about one-half to two-thirds down the 5,000 foot long runway. The runway was wet, and he was unable to stop the aircraft in the remaining distance. The aircraft collided with a perimeter fence, then collided with trees. The right wing broke away from the fuselage, and the aircraft caught fire. The pilot put out the fire with a hand-held extinguisher. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft following the accident. The reported visibility at the time of the accident was 1.25 miles. The visibility minimums for the Dyersburg VOR/DME Runway 4 approach were 1 mile. The minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the approach was 750 feet mean sea level, or 455 feet above ground level. The sky condition at the time of the accident was partially obscured, with a ceiling of 100 feet. -