LAX05CA235

The airplane overran the runway's end and skidded into a block wall during a downwind landing. Prior to takeoff, the pilot had spoken with the airstrip's owner who reported that the wind was calm. Upon arriving at the airport, the pilot made a straight-in approach to runway 09 without first verifying the local wind direction. Runway 27 was available for use. The airport was equipped with windsocks that were at the approach ends of both runways, and witnesses said the winds were from the west at approximately 15 knots. The pilot said that during rollout about midway down the runway, the airplane seemed to accelerate. There was insufficient remaining runway on the 2,000-foot-long dirt airstrip to go-around, so the pilot applied brakes. The airplane impacted the block wall at 20 mph. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions.

On July 14, 2005, about 1450 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N210NS, collided with a block wall during a landing overrun accident at the Bauer Airport, a privately owned airstrip near Twentynine Palms, California. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the airline transport pilot was not injured. A private individual owned the airplane, and operated it on the personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Lancaster, California, about 1400.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that prior to departing Lancaster he had spoken with the airstrip's owner, who also owned the airplane. The owner reported that the local wind was calm. The pilot indicated that after departing from the William J. Fox Airport in Lancaster, he flew in an easterly direction and arrived in the vicinity of Twentynine Palms. The pilot then elected to make a straight-in approach to the Bauer Airport. The pilot reported that he did not observe the windsock on final approach. The pilot landed on runway 09 with the wing flaps fully extended.

The pilot additionally reported to the Safety Board investigator that the airplane seemed to accelerate during the landing rollout, upon reaching the runway's midpoint. The pilot opined that he had encountered a tailwind. Because the airstrip had a dirt surface and was only 2,000 feet long, there was inadequate room to perform a go-around. Obstacles (a block wall and power lines) were near the departure end of the runway. The pilot further stated that despite his best effort, he was unable to stop before overrunning the runway's end and skidding into the block wall. The airplane impacted the wall while decelerating through about 20 miles per hour. The pilot did not report having experienced any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight.

The airport's owner reported that a windsock, in good condition, was at the approach end of runway 09 and 27. When the accident occurred, the pilot had experienced about a 15-knot tailwind. Runway 27 was available for the pilot to have used.

The Twentynine Palms EAF Airport (NXP) is located about 8 miles from the Bauer Airport. Between 1355 and 1555, NXP reported its wind was from 250 to 260 degrees, at 12 to 14 knots.