Piper PA-28-140 N1818J accident near Meriden, Kansas

Probable cause

The pilot electing to land at an airport with a runway environment that precluded a go-around with the tailwind weather conditions present which resulted in a runway excursion during the landing.

NTSB analysis

A tailwind condition existed at the destination airport and the pilot reported that a strong gust of wind occurred on short final, which pushed the airplane a few hundred feet down the runway. He said that the gust occurred after the decision point for a go-around because of power lines at the other end of the runway. A landing was attempted. The airplane exited the end of the runway, crossed a ditch, and came to rest on a street near the runway. Substantial spar damage occurred during the runway excursion. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions associated with the flight. Canceling "the flight altogether because of weather" was a safety recommendation made by the pilot.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA279 for the full record.