What happened
On 11 August 2023, a CESSNA 350, registration N1097L, was performing a private flight from Freiburg, Germany, to Ibiza, Spain, with a scheduled refueling stop at Sabadell Airport. The flight involved two occupants, a pilot and a passenger, both of whom were unharmed.
Upon entering the Sabadelle aerodrome traffic zone, the pilot was instructed by the control tower to circle a waypoint to accommodate existing traffic. Following this maneuver, the pilot was cleared for a straight-in approach to runway 13. The aircraft touched down approximately halfway down the runway. Due to the high speed and altitude at the threshold, the pilot was unable to decelerate sufficiently before the end of the paved surface. The aircraft overshot the runway, crossed onto the paved area beyond the threshold, and eventually came to a stop after striking a 12-meter section of the airport's perimeter fence.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined radar data, airport surveillance footage, and the aircraft's pitot-static system. Radar analysis revealed that while the pilot was cleared for a straight-in approach, the aircraft maintained a high speed throughout the maneuver. Specifically, the aircraft's indicated airspeed (IAS) was approximately 158 kt at the threshold, significantly exceeding the recommended landing speeds for the aircraft's configuration.
Surveillance cameras confirmed that the aircraft's touchdown occurred past the midpoint of the runway and captured the subsequent impact with the fence. Technical inspections of the pitot-static system confirmed that the aircraft's airspeed indicators were functioning correctly, ruling out instrument failure. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's flaps were in the takeoff position during the landing roll, and the engine throttle was near full power.
Findings
- The aircraft approached and landed at a speed considerably higher than the reference landing speed.
- The aircraft reached the runway 13 threshold with excessive altitude and speed.
- The touchdown point was beyond the halfway mark of the runway, leaving insufficient distance for a safe rollout.
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite the high-speed, high-altitude approach, even though the aircraft configuration was suitable for a balked landing.
- The pilot's focus on groundspeed relative to a tailwind led to a lack of proper instrument monitoring, specifically regarding indicated airspeed.