Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that after touchdown on runway 03, he applied brakes to stop the aircraft. Immediately after the brake application, the aircraft began a hard left turn. He applied full right rudder, aileron, and right brake, but was unable to arrest the turn. He then applied full power to the engine in an attempt to arrest the turn, but with no success. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, down a slight incline, across a shallow ditch, and came to rest in a grassy area just west of the parallel taxiway. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that both the right and left tires were fully inflated, and the left and right brakes rotated freely.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 12, 1995, at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46, N623DS, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during the landing roll at the Mark Anton Airport in Dayton, Tennessee. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, but the second passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 1100 hours. The pilot stated that after touchdown on runway 03, he applied brakes to stop the aircraft. Immediately after the brake application, the aircraft began a hard left turn. He applied full right rudder, aileron, and right brake, but was unable to arrest the turn. He then applied full power to the engine in an attempt to arrest the turn, but with no success. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, down a slight incline, across a shallow ditch, and came to rest in a grassy area just west of the parallel taxiway. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that both the right and left tires were fully inflated, and the left and right brakes rotated freely. -