N8350Z

On January 2, 1998, at 1500 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA-34-220T, N8350Z, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when on landing roll, the airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through a ditch and impacted into a fence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. There were no injuries reported by the pilot or the two passengers on board. The cross- country flight originated at Harrison, Arkansas, at 1330 cst, and was en route to Winterset, Iowa.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he established the airplane on a 6 and 1/2 mile straight-in approach to the airport. He said that the ride was very rough and that he kept the airspeed at 110 knots. Crossing the approach end of the runway, the pilot said that his airspeed was 100 knots. The pilot said that he "used up about 1,000 feet to negotiate the landing." As the pilot began to apply brake pressure, he noticed that he had no pressure on the left brake pedal. The pilot said that he pumped the pedal three times, and then reapplied the brakes. By this time, the airplane was three quarters of the way down the runway. Just before reaching the displaced threshold, the pilot said that the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot said that he swerved the airplane to the left in hopes of turning onto the grass. The airplane began to slide sideways in the grass crashing into a fence and coming to rest in a ditch.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who examined the wreckage at the scene, found the airplane resting upright in a field approximately 75 feet off the departure end of runway 32 at Winterset-Madison County Airport, Iowa. Tire marks were observed beginning approximately a third of the way down from the approach end of the runway, and ran evenly down the runway centerline until departing the prepared surface. Tire impressions in the grass began at the end of the runway and veered to the left, ending at the spot where the airplane came to rest. The outboard four feet of the airplane's right wing, including the right aileron and outboard edge of the right flap, were bent upward almost 90 degrees. The right main landing gear was bent aft and broken. The right propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. The right stabilator and elevator were bent upward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found in the brakes, brake lines, master cylinders or brake pedals. No fluid leaks were found in the system. Examination of the engines, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.