CEN12LA362

The pilot was attempting to land on a grass strip with a tailwind. However, the airplane overshot the approach end of the runway by about 1,000 feet before it touched down; the pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it went off the runway and collided with trees. The pilot was operating without a valid medical certificate, and a review of his logbook revealed that his last logged flight occurred about 8 years before the accident. His most recent biennial flight review was about 19 years before the accident.

On June 12, 2012, approximately 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112 airplane, N2510B, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees while landing near Mt. Vernon, Missouri. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at the Jerry Sumners Senior Aurora Municipal Airport (2H2), Aurora, Missouri, approximately 0830. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the 85-year-old pilot was attempting to land on a grass field adjacent to his house. The pilot landed with a tailwind and was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with trees at the west end of the runway. The pilot's son stated his father "overshot" the east end of the runway and landed 1,000 feet beyond where he should have touched down. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot recently had his farm hands mow the tall grass to make a landing strip that was approximately 2,500 feet long and aligned east-west. The last 200 feet of the runway sloped downhill. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His last FAA third class medical was issued in July of 1991. According to the FAA, the pilot had a total of 460 flight hours, all of which, were in the accident airplane. The pilot's last biennial flight review was conducted in April 1993 and his last logged flight occurred in May 2004. Weather at Springfield-Branson National Airport(SGF),Springfield, Missouri, approximately 15 miles northeast of the accident site, was reported as wind from 080 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles and clear skies.