N6404E

On April 13, 1999, at 1725 central daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N6404E, was substantially damaged following a runway overrun while landing near Sheridan, Arkansas. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the Sheridan Municipal Airport at 1645.

According to the narrative section of the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the flight departed the Sheridan Municipal Airport and proceeded to the local practice area. After a few minutes in the practice area, the pilot returned to the airport and made a full stop landing on runway 01. He then elected to stay in the traffic pattern for runway 19 "to practice cross wind landings from the other direction." The pilot estimated the winds were "easterly at about 5 or 6 knots."

The 906-hour pilot stated that he executed "a normal landing" on runway 19. The airplane overran the departure end of the 3,000 foot long runway and continued on the centerline of the runway across the runway safety zone into a 60 foot wide shallow drainage ditch. Subsequently, after the nose landing wheel separated, the nose strut dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position.

The pilot stated that "he did not realize he was moving too fast until shortly before he ran off the runway."

There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. The 72-year-old pilot exited the airplane without outside assistance and walked to the airport manager's hangar to report the mishap.

At 1750, the winds at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, located approximately 22 miles east of the airport, were reported to be from 100 degrees at 12 knots.

Examination of the 1959 vintage airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, right lift strut, and the nose landing gear assembly sustained structural damage. Additionally, the top portions of both wings sustained compression damage, and the propeller blades were bent. The FAA inspector added that the skids marks made by the tires near the departure end of the runway were indicative of "a very long and fast touchdown."