N7003P

On September 16, 1998, about 1630 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N7003P, registered to Delta Romeo Corporation, collided with terrain while landing at the Centre Municipal Airport, Centre, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed but not activated for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, pilot-rated right front seat passenger, and one rear seat passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1700 eastern daylight time from the Fulton County Airport-Brown Field, Atlanta, Georgia.

The pilot stated that he overflew the airport but did not locate the windsock. He elected to land on runway 27 and during final approach, the airplane was slightly fast and high. He continued the approach and at the point that he decided to go-around, he observed trees ahead and felt he would be unable to clear them. He elected to continue and the airplane was landed about 2/3 down the 3,401-foot-long runway. Unable to stop the airplane, it rolled off the end of the runway, then veered to the right, which he straightened with application of power and left rudder. The airplane then traveled into a ditch causing the left main landing gear to collapse. He further reported that he landed downwind, and he should have decided to go-around earlier. He located the windsock postaccident and noted that it was operational.

A weather observation taken at 1655 central daylight time, from the Gadsen Municipal Airport, indicated in part that the wind was from 150 degrees at 4 knots. The Gadsen airport is located 25 nautical miles and 240 degrees from the accident airport.