What happened
On 1 September 2016, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country training flight in a P & M Aviation QuikR, registration G-CHert. After departing Arclid airfield, the aircraft arrived over Hawksview Airfield in Cheshire approximately 20 minutes later.
Upon arrival, the pilot observed the windsock to determine landing conditions. However, the pilot misidentified the wind direction, believing the wind was coming from the east when it was actually from the west. This error led the pilot to select Runway 08 for landing instead of the appropriate Runway 26.
The initial approach was too high, prompting the pilot to perform a go-around. During the subsequent second approach, the aircraft touched down significantly further down the runway than intended. The aircraft bounced upon contact and veered toward the right side of the runway. The pilot was unable to correct the course, and the aircraft eventually struck a fence located to the right of the runway, coming to rest on its side.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the runway excursion and the pilot's decision-making process regarding wind direction. The pilot, who had 45 hours of total flying experience, provided information regarding the misinterpretation of the windsock. The investigation confirmed that the pilot's error regarding the wind direction resulted in a downwind landing attempt.
Findings
- The pilot misread the wind direction from the windsock, leading to the selection of the wrong runway.
- The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the wing spar and the glassfibre pod.
- The pilot sustained one minor injury involving broken fingers on his right hand.
- The landing was performed on the incorrect runway, resulting in a long touchdown and a subsequent bounce.