ERA09CA007

The accident flight was the first time the pilot was landing at the privately owned, publicly used airport, with non-standard runway lighting. The pilot was concerned with the runway length and steep drop-off at the end of the runways. The landing runway was 2,566 feet long, 50 feet wide, and was not equipped with a visual slope indicator. Upon his approach to the destination airport, the pilot noted that the runway lights were dim. The night was especially dark for the pilot, limiting his visual cues. The pilot landed hard, on up-sloping terrain, 6 feet short of where the runway’s pavement began. Both main landing gear brake system were damaged in the process. The pilot was not able to brake or steer the airplane. The airplane veered off to the left, went through a fiberglass fence, and down an embankment before coming to a stop into several pine trees.

The pilot of the Cirrus SR20 stated that he was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan to an airport, which he had been to before. The airport was privately owned, publicly used, and equipped with non-standard lighting. The pilot was concerned with the runway length at the destination airport, which was significantly shorter than what he was accustomed to. An additional concern was the steep drop-off at the end of the runways. When the pilot was about 6 miles from the airport, he observed the airport lighting and continued on a visual approach to runway 35,a 2,566-foot long, 50-foot wide, asphalt runway. The airport’s runway lighting was illuminated, but somewhat dim and not controllable from the cockpit. In addition, runway 35 was not equipped with a visual slope indicator. The pilot noted that the night seemed to be especially dark with an absence of any visual cues. The landing was hard. The pilot "chopped" the power completely and applied the brakes. About 1,500 feet down the runway, braking effectiveness and directional control of the airplane was lost. The airplane veered to the left, went through a fiberglass fence, down an embankment, and came to rest into pine trees. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the airplane impacted up-sloping terrain 6 feet before the runway’s pavement began. The airplane traveled about three-quarters of the runway before exiting off the left side. The airplane’s propeller, fuselage underside, and all three landing gears incurred damage. Both main landing gear brake fluid supply fittings were broken off.