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CEN12CA225

2012-03-21 · Malvern, Arkansas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport M78

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot did not fly a stabilized approach and elected not to perform a go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he diverted to the accident airport due to weather with low ceilings. He encountered a gust of wind and rain during the turn from the base leg to final which caused him to be right of the runway centerline. Although the airplane floated down the runway and landed long, the pilot elected not to do a go-around. The pilot reported that the wet runway caused the tires to hydroplane, which increased the stopping distance. The airplane was traveling about 5 to 10 mph when it overran the end of the runway. The pilot attempted to veer the airplane to the left, but the right wing hit a fence and the nose gear collapsed. The examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to a longeron in the empennage. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane. The pilot reported that he diverted to the accident airport due to weather with low ceilings. He encountered a gust of wind and rain during the turn from the base leg to final approach, which caused the airplane to be right of the runway centerline. Although the airplane floated down the runway and landed long, the pilot elected not to do a go-around. The pilot reported that the wet runway caused the tires to hydroplane, which increased the stopping distance. The airplane was traveling about 5 to 10 mph when it overran the end of the runway. The pilot attempted to veer the airplane to the left, but the right wing hit a fence, and the nose gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to a longeron in the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Not attained/maintained
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa-Wet-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_CEN12CA225.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (runway excursion, go-around). All research papers