What happened
On 2 July 2015, a Skyranger Swift 912S, registration G-CFSW, was returning to Kemeys Commander Airfield in Monmouthshire following a brief local flight. During the approach to the 500 m grass runway 13, the pilot encountered a damp runway surface and a light south-east wind of 5 kt.
The aircraft touched down approximately one-third to one-half of the way down the runway. Following a single bounce, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining runway length, overran the end of the strip, crossed a rut, and came to rest in a hedge. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, both of whom were secured in four-point harnesses.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the landing conditions and the pilot's handling of the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the left wing, the main landing gear, and the nosewheel assembly.
Findings
- The pilot's approach was performed at an excessive speed.
- The pilot lacked sufficient experience on this specific aircraft type.
- The aircraft bounced during the landing phase, leading to the subsequent overrun.