What happened
On 31 August 2018, a Pulsar aircraft, registration G-LUED, was performing a private flight at Sturgate Airfield in Lincolnshire. During the landing phase on Runway 27, the aircraft failed to decelerate as expected after touchdown. The aircraft overran the available 820 m landing distance, crossed an unpaved area, and its mainwheels entered a ditch. The impact caused the aircraft to flip over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger was unhurt. Passers-by in a nearby vehicle assisted the occupants in exiting the overturned plane.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the flight conditions and the aircraft's performance characteristics. The pilot believed an unexpected tailwind had contributed to the overrun. However, a witness observing the landing noted that the aircraft touched down significantly further down the runway than the pilot had estimated. This witness also observed the engine note increasing, suggesting a potential attempt at a go-around, though the pilot stated he did not attempt to abort the landing because he lacked confidence in the engine's ability to accelerate the aircraft sufficiently.
Physical evidence from the scene showed that the aircraft's tailwheel was not in contact with the ground during the overrun, indicating the aircraft was traveling at a high speed. Investigation into the aircraft's configuration confirmed that the trailing edge flaps were in the landing position at the time of the accident. The investigation also considered the characteristics of the Pulsar, noting that as a low-drag aircraft, it is prone to floating in ground effect if threshold speeds exceed recommended limits.
Findings
- The aircraft failed to stop within the available landing distance.
- The touchdown point was likely much further along the runway than the pilot realized.
- Wind effects and the aircraft's tendency to float in ground effect likely contributed to a deep landing and the subsequent overrun.