Primary finding
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to adequately judge the wind direction and to select the correct runway, which resulted in a downwind landing; and his failure to go around, while there was sufficient runway remaining. The tailwind, fence, and ditch were related factors.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that while he was preparing to land, he was 'unable to determine any substantial wind by ground observation or from any effect on the path of the aircraft over terrain.' He stated that he then made a low pass over runway 6 and observed the windsock to show a moderate crosswind from the north. The pilot then made an approach, but landed long and with a slight bounce. The aircraft overran the runway and collided with a fence and a berm, then nosed over. The pilot further reported that after the accident, he observed the windsock to show a tailwind for landing on runway 6. Also, he was told that the winds were coming from 240 degrees at approximately 12 knots at the time of the accident. He stated that he 'misjudged the stopping distance and failed to initiate a go-around.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 7, 1997, at 1537 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738ET, overran runway 6 on landing at the Joshua Tree, California, airport and collided with a fence and a berm, then nosed over. The aircraft was rented by the pilot from Morcom Aviation Services of Everett, Washington, for a cross-country personal flight to Joshua Tree. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and his two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Santa Monica, California, on the day of the accident at 1415. In his written statement, the pilot reported that while he was setting up the approach into the Joshua Tree Airport, he was "unable to determine any substantial wind by ground observation or from any effect on the path of the aircraft over terrain." He stated that after determining that there was no other traffic in the area, he made a low pass over runway 6 and observed the windsock to show a moderate crosswind from the north. The pilot reported that after going around, he made a normal approach but landed long and with a slight bounce. He then overran the runway and collided with a fence and a berm, then nosed over. The pilot further reported that after the accident he observed the windsock to show a tailwind for landing on runway 6, and he was told that the winds were coming from 240 degrees at approximately 12 knots at the time of the accident. He stated that he "misjudged the stopping distance and failed to initiate a go-around." -