What happened
On 11 July 2015, a Europa aircraft, registration G-IKRK, was performing a private flight at Laddingford Aerodrome in Kent. During the arrival phase, the pilot executed an overhead join and approached Runway 29. The wind conditions at the time were reported between 5 and 10 knots, coming from a direction between 270° and 330°.
The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an excessive speed, estimated between 65 and 70 knots, which exceeded the manufacturer's recommended approach speed of 60 to 65 knots. This high-speed approach resulted in the aircraft bouncing upon touchdown. In an attempt to regain flight, the pilot applied power; however, the aircraft subsequently landed again to the left of the runway centerline. Due to the presence of long grass, the pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to come to rest in a drainage ditch. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the exhaust stub, the lower cowling, and the leading edge of the left wing.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters and the aircraft's performance during the landing sequence. It was established that the touchdown speed was significantly higher than the recommended 45 to 50 knots specified in the aircraft's owner's manual. The investigators also noted that another Europa aircraft had experienced a similar runway excursion at the same location approximately 35 minutes prior to this event.