What happened
On 2 March 2023, a Vans RV-9A, registration G-CCGU, was conducting a local flight near Henstridge Airfield in Somerset. During the final stages of an approach to Runway 06, the aircraft collided with a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that was traversing the road crossing the runway undershoot.
The collision occurred just before touchdown, with the right wingtip striking the rear of the HGV trailer. Following the impact, the aircraft struck the ground in an inverted position short of the runway threshold. While the pilot escaped with minor injuries, the passenger sustained a serious injury involving a broken wrist that required surgery. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its wings, rudder, engine components, and canopy.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft was on a standard 3° approach path at the time of the incident. The access road, which serves a nearby industrial site, experiences high traffic volumes, including roughly 300 HGV movements daily. The road meets the runway centerline at a shallow 20° angle.
Investigators found that the low-wing design of the Vans RV-9A and the shallow angle of the road convergence likely prevented the pilot from spotting the vehicle during the approach. At the point of impact, the aircraft was approximately 4 meters above the ground. Although Henstridge is an unlicensed airfield and not required to meet CAP 168 obstacle clearance standards, the investigation noted that the HGV was positioned such that it penetrated the clearance surface defined for licensed aerodromes.
Findings
- The collision was caused by the aircraft striking an HGV that was crossing the runway undershoot.
- The pilot's ability to observe the vehicle was significantly hindered by the aircraft's low-wing configuration and the shallow angle of the road's approach to the runway.
- The aircraft's roll bar and seat harnesses functioned as intended, protecting the occupants during the inversion.
Safety action
Following the accident, the airfield operator implemented a change to the runway configuration. The threshold for Runway 06 has been displaced by an additional 100 meters. This modification ensures that a standard 3° approach now provides a much higher clearance over the road, bringing the approach path into compliance with CAP 168 obstacle clearance requirements.