Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and selection of the wrong runway, which resulted in a downwind landing, the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and a runway overrun.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 20, 2006, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Murray RV-6A, N31RM, overran runway 3 after landing at Hesperia Airport, Hesperia, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Apple Valley, California, about 1100, with a planned destination of Hesperia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot submitted a written report. After arriving in the airport environment, he requested airport advisories via Universal Communications (UNICOM), but received no response. He decided to land on runway 3 and asked his passenger to confirm the wind conditions. The passenger looked out the right window to verify the wind direction and agreed with the pilot's decision to land on runway 3. The airplane touched down long and fast, and the pilot realized that he was landing with a tailwind. It was too late for him to stop before the end of the runway and the airplane ran into the airport perimeter fence.
The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight or subsequent landing.
Ontario Airport, Ontario, California, located 24 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported winds from 240 degrees at 10 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX06CA207