N2607Q

On December 18, 2001, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182K, N2607Q, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway (north direction, 1,940 feet by 70 feet, dry grass/turf) during landing on a private airstrip near Nashville, Michigan, and impacted into a ditch. Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Hastings, Michigan, at 1530, and was en route to Nashville, Michigan.

In his written statement, the pilot said he was flying home from Hastings. He said he checked the wind sock at the farm's runway and found it indicated a direct crosswind. The pilot said with a direct crosswind, he always lands on about a 350-degree heading. The pilot said he touched down in the middle of the field as he always does. The pilot said his field has a little rise at each end and that he had to add a little power to get on the far side of the rise. The pilot said his power was back, he had full flaps extended, he flared, and landed. He said everything seemed normal. The pilot said, "But 100+ (plus) feet I feel I got a little tailwind and I locked my brakes, shut mags (magnetos) off and thought I would make it but didn't, plane landed nose down in bottom of 8' (feet) drainage ditch."

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane had come to rest nose down in a ditch approximately 30 feet beyond the departure end of the pilot's privately-owned grass airstrip. The airplane's left wing was bent aft. The propeller blades were bent aft. The cowling was crushed aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

At 1553, the wind conditions reported at Battle Creek, Michigan, 19 miles south-southwest of the accident site was 260 degrees at 10 knots.