On October 1, 2000, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N43055, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain and water during landing at Boone Airport in Boone, North Carolina. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Moore County Airport in Pinehurst, North Carolina, at 1456. According to the pilot, he landed long on runway 31 (2,100 ft. x 40 ft.) with a tailwind present. Rather than performing a go-around due to mountainous terrain off the end of the runway, he elected to land. After touchdown, the airplane traveled down an embankment and into a 7-foot deep ravine. The airplane sustained damage to the engine, propeller, firewall, and left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.