N7742W

On October 3, 1997, about 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7742W, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway and collided with terrain during landing at the Katama Airpark, Edgartown, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot stated he obtained a weather report from Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, approximately 5 miles from Katama Airpark. Martha's Vineyard reported winds from 080 degrees at 6 knots, and with that information, the pilot planned an approach and landing to runway 06, a 2,700 foot long grass runway. The pilot flew the approach with full flaps and the airplane landed "...a little hot [fast]..." approximately 1/3 of the way down the runway. Upon touchdown, the pilot stated he retracted the flaps because "...the brakes supposedly work better when flaps are up". The pilot said the grass was wet, and as he applied the brakes, they were ineffective. The airplane continued towards telephone poles that lay across the departure end of the runway. The airplane impacted the poles, shearing off the nose gear and right main landing gear, coming to rest upright.

As the pilot exited the airplane after the accident, he determined the wind to be from 225 degrees at 8 knots. There was wind sock located on the northeast side of Katama Airpark.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.