ATL04LA020

The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport, he had difficulty recognizing the runways. When he realized runway 14 was in front of him, he elected to land on it. The airplane bounced three times and went off the end of the runway into a ditch. A witness stated the airplane came in fast and was about 60 feet above runway 14 when it crossed the intersection with runway 3. The witness estimated the airplane had one hundred yards of runway remaining when the pilot "forced it down." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.

On October 18, 2003, at 1705 eastern daylight time, a Beech A23-24, N2394W, registered to Hancock Aviation, Inc., and operated by the private pilot, went off the end of the runway and collided into a ditch during landing at Michael J. Smith Field, Beaufort, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and the passenger reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley, West Virginia, about 1410 on October 18, 2003.

The flight initially departed Findlay, Ohio, with a fuel stop in Beckley, West Virginia. The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport in Beaufort, North Carolina, he had difficulty recognizing the runways. When he realized runway 14 was in front of him, he elected to land on it. The pilot stated the airplane bounced three times during landing, and he did not initiate a go-around, because he did not think the airplane would clear the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot stated there was not enough runway remaining to stop the airplane.

A witness at the airport reported the airplane was moving "fast" and had not touched down prior to the halfway point of the 4,000-foot runway. A second witness stated the airplane was "really moving" and was about 60 feet above runway 14 when it passed the intersection with runway 3, and he estimated the airplane had one hundred yards of runway remaining when the pilot "forced it down." Both witnesses reported the airplane porpoised, then went off the end of the runway into the ditch of a settlement pond.

Examination of the airplane revealed the right side of the nose section sustained crush damage, the propeller was bent, the nose gear was displaced, and the right wing sustained crush damage and was displaced aft at the wing root. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.