20120609010489A

The runway at Butler Airport (IN46), Rockville, IN, is a grass runway identified as being 2100 feet long and oriented magnetically as runways 9/27, with a field elevation of 687'. There are trees at the approach/departure ends of both runways. Butler Airport is approx. 18NM nne of terre haute int'l airport (khuf), where the hourly weather observation at 12:53 (local) on the day of the accident was reported as 'clear' with 10 miles visibility; wind was variable at 4 knots; the ambient temperature was 85 deg. F; and the khuf altimeter setting was 29.99"hg. On the first approach-to-landing attempt on runway 27, the pilot had to execute a 'go-around' because he was too high and fast. He went back around for a second landing attempt and used 'full flaps'. The pilot stated the winds were relatively calm, estimating them to be less than 4 knots, consistent with the wind reported at khuf. He stated that on his second (and last) attempt, he was still high and fast, but elected to continue with the landing. After touchdown and as he was nearing the runway end, realized that he would be unable to get the aircraft stopped. He also stated that at that point he had no other options (due to the runway length remaining and the trees), so he was just riding it out to the impact point. The aircraft left the mowed portion of the runway, traveled down an approximate 45 degree slope, crossed a gravel road, and impacted some small diameter trees and other vegetation, approximately 70 to 80 feet beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft came to a stop in a nose down attitude with both wings heavily damaged. The aircraft was resting on the propeller spinner and the blades were bent aft. The right tip tank (fuel) was separated from the wing and laying on the ground in front of the wing. The rest of the aircraft was intact, but heavily damaged. The wing flaps, landing gear, and engine controls positions were consistent with a normal landing event.