What happened
On 2 November 2017, a Pioneer 200-M, registration G-CGEJ, was performing a private flight when it departed the runway at Roddige Airfield in Staffordshire. Following a landing on a grass runway that was wet due to recent rainfall, the pilot applied brakes, causing the aircraft to skid and veer away from the prepared surface. The aircraft subsequently entered a ploughed field where the soil was notably soft.
As the aircraft moved into the field, the nose landing gear sank into the soft earth and buckled. This impact caused the aircraft to swing around, leading to further damage to the propeller, the wing, and the main landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the conditions of the airfield and the sequence of the landing. It was established that the runway surface was wet, which contributed to the loss of directional control during the braking phase. The investigation also noted the state of the adjacent terrain, specifically that the ploughed field contained very soft soil due to recent rain.
Findings
- The aircraft skidded on the wet grass runway because the pilot applied braking slightly heavily.
- The soft condition of the ploughed field caused the nose landing gear to dig into the ground and buckle.
- The resulting rotation of the aircraft caused secondary damage to the propeller and wing.