N13WPiper PA-32R-301 · 2001

On July 15, 2009, at 1814 central daylight time, a Beech S35, N13W, sustained substantial damage while landing when it departed the end of runway 9 (2,660 feet by 30 feet, gravel) and impacted terrain at the Tuscola Airport (K96), Tuscola, Illinois. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight departed Pikesville, Kentucky, and was landing at K96, the intended destination airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot had filed an instrument flight plan.

The pilot and passenger departed Edenton (EDE), North Carolina, at approximately 1430, en route to Pike County Airport (PBX), Pikesville, Kentucky, where the airplane was refueled. The flight departed PBX about 1800.

The flight arrived at K96 about 2000. The pilot’s first attempt to land resulted in a go-around because the airplane was too high and fast. During the second landing attempt, the airplane bounced and the pilot did another go-around.

The passenger reported that during the third landing attempt, the airplane was too fast. He reported that the airplane touched down about 1/3 or 1/2 way down the runway going “very fast.” The pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane went off the end of the runway. The pilot made a sharp left turn to avoid hitting a ditch head-on. The right main landing gear and nose gear collapsed, and the right wing came to rest on the road.

The pilot reported that he took his hand off the throttle during the flare so that he could have both hands on the yoke. He reported that the throttle advanced about 200 rpm when he removed his hand from the throttle. Once on the runway, he put his hand back on the throttle. He was careful to not apply too much braking because of the oil and gravel runway surface. He turned 90 degrees to the left in order to avoid hitting the ditch.

A witness at the airport reported that the airplane touched down near midfield. The witness tried to tell the pilot to go-around on his hand held radio because he felt the airplane could not stop within the remaining distance.

An examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle linkage was hitting the stops. No discrepancies were noted. The throttle cable was disassembled and all components were found in place and appeared in good condition.