N42AM

On October 19, 1997, at 1400 central daylight time, a Beech A36TC airplane, N42AM, impacted the terrain while landing at the Stratford Field Airport, Stratford, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by Walter Lasley and Sons, Inc., of Stratford, Texas, was flown under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and the passenger did not receive injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport. The flight departed Kansas City, Missouri, at 1200 on an IFR flight plan.

During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported encountering IMC for approximately 20 minutes en route at 8,000 feet MSL. Thirty miles from the destination airport, the pilot canceled the IFR clearance and began the descent profile for a visual approach to runway 04. Due to several hangars located near the approach end of the runway, the pilot made a "high approach." Winds were from the north at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots, and the airplane touched down about 1/3 of the way down the 3,030 foot long runway. When the pilot realized that he was not going to get the airplane stopped on the runway, he veered the airplane to the right in an attempt to avoid a ditch located near the end of runway. The airplane struck the ditch, collapsing the nose gear and damaging the left wing's rear spar.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot stated that the winds were from the north during the approach to runway 04; however, as the airplane touched down the winds changed to the "north northwest maybe favoring [runway] 22." The pilot stated that "pilot error is all I can say."