Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain runway alignment. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to execute a go-around when he saw that he would not land on the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated he kept the airplane in a slip until just prior to touchdown. When he straightened the airplane for alignment with the runway he was over the edge of the runway and touched down off of the runway. The pilot stated he lost control of the airplane on the ground and it ground looped.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 13, 1995, about 1015 eastern daylight time, N704ZQ, registered to the pilot ran off the side of the runway and nosed over on landing at Knightdale Airport, Knightdale, North Carolina, while on 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from the same airport about 45 minutes earlier. The pilot was observed by witnesses to land long, and downwind on runway 19. The airplane then veered off the right side, struck a ditch and nosed over. The pilot stated he kept the airplane in a slip until just before touchdown. When applied rudder to straighten the airplane alignment on the runway he was over the right side of the runway and touched down. He lost control of the airplane and in retrospect he stated he should have executed a go-around. -