SEA00LA125

The pilot reported that on final, he was higher than necessary. He subsequently touched down at the center of the field (the turf runway is 2,115 feet long.) He stated that he 'should have gone around but by the time I realized I wasn't going to make a successful landing it was [too] late.' The aircraft went off the end of the runway into soft dirt and blackberry vines. The pilot stated that he 'thought there was a pile of brush so [I] pushed the left rudder and ground looped rather than hit head on the brush.' The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident.

On July 6, 2000, approximately 1515 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172I, N35359, was substantially damaged in a runway overrun during landing on runway 26 at Sandy River Airport, Sandy, Oregon. The private pilot-in-command and a pilot-rated passenger were uninjured in the accident. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight had departed Grove Field, Camas, Washington approximately 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight.

The pilot reported that on final, he was higher than necessary. He stated that he lowered full flaps, and that his airspeed was "65" (he did not specify knots or MPH.) He stated that he touched down at the center of the field and "thought the landing okay", and that he "should have gone around but by the time I realized I wasn't going to make a successful landing it was [too] late." The aircraft went off the end of the runway into soft dirt and blackberry vines. The pilot stated that he "thought there was a pile of brush so [I] pushed the left rudder and ground looped rather than hit head on the brush." The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident.

According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory, Sandy River Airport runway 26 is an unmarked turf runway, 2,115 feet long and 100 feet wide. The airport elevation is 704 feet above sea level. Winds at Troutdale, Oregon, were reported as being from 270 degrees true at 7 knots at 1453, and from 300 degrees true at 7 knots at 1553. The pilot reported that winds were calm at Sandy River Airport at the time of the accident, and that the runway was dry and in good condition.