N6882P

On April 7, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6882P, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged during landing at Grawunder Airport, Bellville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Houston, Texas, about 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that, during his first attempted landing to runway 15, he did a go-around due to being too fast. During the second attempted landing, the aircraft touched down about halfway down the 2,480 foot runway with no flaps extended. The pilot further reported that he was unable to stop the aircraft prior to overrunning the runway.

The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Report that, during his second approach, he landed "to fast, but thought [he] had adequate stopping distance." The pilot "cut power, applied full brakes, [and] skidded off [the] south end of [the] runway into a fence."

Examination of the accident site by the FAA inspector revealed three tire marks leading to the point where the aircraft departed the runway. The aircraft came to a stop off the right end of the runway down a five foot embankment.

Examination of the airplane revealed all three landing gear were folded under, the left wing spar was fractured, and the lower portion of the firewall and left horizontal stabilizer were damaged.