Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to land at a closed water-soaked grass runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during landing on the 2,344 ft grass runway, the airplane floated and touched down near mid-field. The pilot applied the brakes and retracted the flaps, but the turf runway was waterlogged, and the airplane exited the end of the runway and nosed over. According to the airport’s chart supplement, the airport was closed from October 1, 2023, to June 1, 2023. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.