Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to attain the correct touchdown point. Factors were: hydroplaning due to the wet runway, and the berm in the overrun area.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that there had been a rain shower at the airport about 15 minutes prior to his arrival. He landed the airplane long on runway 18, and when he applied the brakes, the airplane began to hydroplane. The pilot also reported that he did not perform a go-around 'due to slow retract time on speed brake coupled with low speed and short runway.' The airplane overran the end of the runway, struck the berm, and came to rest inverted. The berm had been left about 18 feet past the end of the runway from prior construction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 6, 1996, at 1130 central daylight time, a Myers Smythe Sidewinder, N112AM, registered to and operated by a private owner, sustained substantial damage during landing near El Dorado, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. A flight plan was not filed for the cross country flight that originated at Holly Springs, Mississippi, at 0935, with an intermediate stop at McGehee, Arkansas. The pilot reported that, there had been a rain shower at El Dorado Airport about 15 minutes prior to his arrival. He landed the airplane "long" on runway 18, and when he applied the brakes, the airplane began to "hydroplane." The pilot also reported that he did not perform a go around "due to slow retract time on speed brake coupled with low speed and short runway." A berm had been left about 18 feet past the end of the runway from a prior construction. When the airplane overran the end of the runway, it struck the berm, and came to rest inverted. The nose gear, the right wing leading edge, and the propeller were damaged. -