What happened
On 7 January 2001, a Beagle B121 Series 2, registration G-AZEU, was conducting a private flight returning to Derby Airfield from the northeast. During the landing sequence, the pilot encountered challenging visual conditions. Although the general visibility was 25 km, the sun had emerged from behind cloud cover, significantly reducing visibility when looking toward the runway.
As the aircraft transitioned from the base leg to the final approach, the pilot observed the runway's black and white marker boards. Due to the glare and the way the runway grass blended with the surrounding terrain, the pilot misidentified the position of the runway. Specifically, the pilot believed a marker board on the left side of the aircraft was the left-hand runway marker, leading to a landing plan positioned to the right of that point.
Upon touchdown at approximately 60 kt, the aircraft traveled roughly 12 meters before striking a fence and sheep feeding equipment located to the right of the runway. The impact caused the nose landing gear to bend backward, resulting in the aircraft tipping forward and coming to rest in an inverted position. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the aircraft through the door without difficulty.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot's perception of the runway boundaries was compromised by the low sun angle and the resulting glare. The investigation also noted that a large, disused aerial blade attached to the cabin roof struck the ground during the inversion, causing the roof to collapse inward. While this did not impede the pilot's escape, it was noted as a potential hazard for more severe impacts.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the misidentification of the runway marker boards caused by reduced visibility when flying into the sun.
- The pilot's attempt to land on the firmer right-hand side of the runway, combined with the visual illusion of the markers, led to the aircraft exiting the runway boundaries.
- The presence of an unused aerial blade on the aircraft roof contributed to the structural collapse of the cabin roof during the inversion.