LAX00LA183

During the landing roll the airplane veered to the right, went off the edge of the runway, and was then guided back over the runway by the pilot. The airplane crossed over the runway and veered off the left side before colliding with a culvert. A pilot-rated passenger seated in the right front seat described the approach and landing. Upon arrival in the airport traffic area, the pilot twice attempted to get a wind and runway advisory through the published airport UNICOM frequency (122.8) without success. He also stated that from their position the airport windsock, located within the segmented circle, appeared too small to be used in accurately determining wind direction. The pilot did not overfly the airfield, make a low pass along the runway, or make any other overt attempt to ascertain wind and runway information prior to landing. Observations at the airport indicated the wind was from 190 to 200 degrees, gusting 20 to 30 knots, at the time of the accident.

On May 7, 2000, at 1000 hours mountain standard time a Cessna T210L, N1726X, veered off the side of the runway while landing at Valle Airport, Grand Canyon, Arizona. The airplane sustained substantial damage, while the certificated private pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The remaining two passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by a private owner under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, at 0919. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport and no flight plan was filed.

A pilot-rated passenger seated in the right front seat described the approach and landing. Upon arrival in the airport traffic area, the pilot twice attempted to get a wind and runway advisory through the published airport UNICOM frequency (122.8) without success. He also stated that from their position the airport windsock, located within the segmented circle, appeared too small to be used in accurately determining wind direction. The pilot did not overfly the airfield, make a low pass along the runway, or make any other overt attempt to ascertain wind and runway information prior to landing.

After turning final, the aircraft drifted off course to the left (east). The passenger attributed this movement to a right crosswind. The approach was flown about 100 mph with touchdown about 65. During the rollout, the aircraft began to weathervane to the right (west) as the speed slowed to about 50 or 55 mph. The aircraft then crossed the centerline and exited the right side of the runway about 35 or 40 mph.

After exiting, the pilot added power and attempted to regain the runway. The aircraft was now in a position that was about 3 to 4 feet below the runway surface and as the aircraft corrected back to the left, it began climbing the sloped embankment.

Once the aircraft was back on the runway, the acceleration continued as it again crossed the centerline and ran off the left side and into the desert. As the aircraft exited the runway for the second time, the pilot throttled back but at this point it had accelerated to nearly 40 mph. The aircraft now began slowing but was still traveling at about 25 or 30 mph when it struck a ditch, collapsing the nose gear. The aircraft finally slid to a halt about 20 feet beyond the ditch.

The airport manager reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 190 and 200 degrees at 25 knots.