Flight Details
At 1705 hours, the aircraft departed Cark Airfield carrying nine parachutists and the pilot. The parachutists exited at approximately 6,500 feet, after which the pilot began descending to land. A low-level left-hand circuit to runway 24 was flown. The surface wind was less than 5 knots from the southwest. It was twilight, but the western sky remained bright from the setting sun, and the runway was visible; no runway lighting was in use. The pilot had selected the red cockpit lighting to full intensity and both landing lights were on.
Landing and Accident
On final approach at 50 feet, the pilot had sufficient visual reference to continue. The aircraft was aligned slightly right of the centerline, but the pilot corrected this before touchdown. As the main wheels contacted the ground, the pilot realized he no longer had adequate visual reference. Before he could take corrective action, the aircraft began decelerating and contacted an obstruction on the left side. The nosewheel was still off the ground when deceleration became rapid. The aircraft then went through a fence to the left of the runway and came to rest against a pile of concrete rubble.
Aftermath
The pilot, wearing lap and diagonal upper torso restraint, escaped without injury. Shortly afterward, when he deemed it safe, he returned to the aircraft to complete shutdown drills. Two sheep were killed in the accident. The pilot recalled seeing a light area on the threshold and initially thought the aircraft may have struck the sheep upon touchdown. In hindsight, he considered the aircraft likely struck the sheep after leaving the runway, and that the light area was a reflection from the landing light seen through a misted windscreen. He reported that the windscreen had misted earlier on this flight and on previous flights; no demister was fitted to the aircraft. He believed this may have reduced the already marginal forward visibility.