# NTSB CHI06CA129: Piper PA-30, N8585Y, Dongola, IL, May 11, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2006, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Dongola, IL - Coordinates: 37.424999, -89.036666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4250&lon=-89.0367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63795/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's intentional maneuver to avoid obstructions at the end of the runway which resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch. The wet grass runway and the ditch were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged when it ran off of a grass runway at the private airstrip. The pilot reported that upon arrival at his destination, the winds were strong and out of the north. He stated that he decided to land into the wind even though the runway sloped downhill in this direction. He stated that he performed a slow approach in landing configuration and then went around to execute the landing. He stated that the touchdown was normal and that there was intermittent braking for 1,500 feet. He stated that the braking action was "almost impossible" due to the wet grass runway. He stated that he veered the airplane to the left and off of the runway in order to avoid tree stumps at the departure end. The pilot listed runway 35 length as 2,000 feet and width as 75 feet. The pilot listed no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane contacted a ditch along the side of the runway. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2006, about 1810 central daylight time (cdt), a Piper PA-30, N8585Y, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when it ran off of a grass runway at the private airstrip near Dongola, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. There were no injuries. The flight originated from the Eagle Creek Airpark, Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1615 cdt. The pilot reported that upon arrival at his destination, the winds were strong and out of the north. He stated that he decided to land into the wind even though the runway sloped downhill in this direction. He stated that he performed a slow approach in landing configuration and then went around to execute the landing. He stated that the touchdown was normal and that there was intermittent braking for 1,500 feet. He stated that the braking action was "almost impossible" due to the wet grass runway. He stated that he veered the airplane to the left and off of the runway in order to avoid tree stumps at the departure end. The pilot listed the runway direction, length and width as 35, 2,000 feet, and 75 feet respectively. The pilot listed no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane contacted a ditch along the side of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8585Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8585Y), registered now, S/N 30-1738, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-b1a) (registry code 41907, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1738 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EYE, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: Dongola, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2004; flight hours: 6,855 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 6,692 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060511030899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060511030899A), May 11, 2006: Piper PA30, Dongola, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of the aircraft attempted a landing on a Private grass airstrip approximately 2000 feet in length which had a wet surface. The aircraft touched… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.