Incident Description
On 7 August 2019, an Embraer 145 (G-SAJK) operating a scheduled service from Aberdeen to London Southend Airport landed on Runway 23. During the landing roll, the commander saw an object on the runway approximately 8–10 m ahead and felt a slight bump through the rudder pedals. After stopping and backtracking, a runway inspection found a general aviation towbar. The aircraft was not damaged, and no injuries occurred.
Background
The towbar had fallen from a Cessna P210N (G-CDMH) that departed Southend at 1747 hrs, about 30 minutes before the Embraer landed. The Cessna pilot reported that he likely departed with the towbar still attached. He noticed a slight left-tracking tendency during taxi but attributed it to tyre pressure. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, he realized he could not remember removing the towbar and notified air traffic control.
Investigation Findings
The Cessna pilot had been involved in a road traffic incident while riding his motorcycle to the airport earlier that day. He described it as “a fright and a close shave” and stated that it was “on his mind” during pre-flight checks, probably contributing to his forgetting to remove the towbar. Additionally, he left his bags in the hangar, further indicating distraction. The pre-flight checklist used by the pilot did not include a reminder to remove ground equipment; he later amended it.
The towbar was painted dark blue, making it difficult to see against the dark asphalt runway. Air traffic control reported that the evening sun position further reduced visibility. The runway inspection conducted after the Cessna’s departure was a wildlife inspection, during which the fire officer focused on the sky rather than the surface, and the towbar was not spotted. The airport does not have electronic foreign object detection.
Aftermath
The Embraer 145 commander noted that the towbar was only visible because it lay across white centerline markings. The incident prompted a safety recommendation to the UK Civil Aviation Authority to improve the visibility of general aviation ground equipment. The Cessna pilot added a visual reminder in his cockpit and updated his checklist.
Conclusion
The investigation determined that the towbar was inadvertently left attached to the Cessna 210 due to pilot distraction following a stressful pre-flight event. No damage or injuries resulted from the runway incursion.