What happened
On 19 November 2014, a Denney Kitfox Mk 2, registration G-KITY, was conducting a private local flight from a grass airfield in undulating terrain near Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire. After completing several touch-and-go landings on runway 15, the pilot transitioned to runway 26 following a shift in wind direction.
During the landing roll on the soft, wet surface of runway 26, the pilot noted a higher than usual groundspeed, likely due to a slight tailwind. The aircraft landed further down the runway than intended. As the aircraft moved onto a downward-sloping section of the runway, the pilot found that wheel braking was ineffective. To avoid an imminent collision with a boundary fence, the pilot applied full power and rotated the aircraft into a climbing attitude to initiate a go-around.
While the aircraft successfully cleared the fence, it failed to gain sufficient altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck the roof of a bungalow located approximately 50 m beyond the fence. The impact caused significant damage to the engine bay, forward fuselage, and left wing. The pilot sustained one serious injury to his back and required extrication by emergency services.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators analyzed the runway topography, noting that the ground fell away increasingly beyond the fence, which obscured the bungalow from the pilot's view during the initial rotation.
Evidence from the scene, including photographs, indicated that although the pilot believed the aircraft had entered a climb after clearing the fence, the aircraft had actually descended approximately 30 ft from its lift-off point. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's assessment of the aircraft's flight state, specifically looking at the possibility of a high-drag configuration.
Findings
- The aircraft landed on a wet, soft grass runway with a slight tailwind, which increased the landing distance.
- The pilot attempted a go-around by applying full power and rotating to a climbing attitude to avoid a boundary fence.
- The aircraft entered a high-drag condition due to a high pitch attitude and insufficient airspeed, which prevented the aircraft from climbing or accelerating despite full power.
- The aircraft's descent following the rotation led to the collision with the bungalow roof.