What happened
On 12 November 2000, a Cessna 182F, registration G-ASLH, was performing a private flight when it encountered difficulties during its landing at Parham Airfield, Suffolk. The aircraft had previously flown from Stapleford aerodrome.
While approaching Runway 24, the pilot intended to utilize the maximum available runway length by touching down at the threshold. The runway surface, consisting of 650 metres of concrete, was noted to be damp in certain areas. During the approach, the pilot configured the aircraft with two stages of flaps. However, the low position of the sun created significant glare along the runway heading, which hindered the pilot's forward visibility.
As the aircraft flared, it touched down in the undershoot area rather than on the prepared concrete. The nose landing gear struck a low ridge located at the transition between the old, rough surface and the usable concrete. This impact caused the nose tyre to burst and the oleo strut to collapse rearward, subsequently leading the propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft stopped approximately 30 metres from the point of impact. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and both occupants evacuated the aircraft safely following emergency shutdown procedures.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the pilot's accident report, focused on the sequence of the landing and the environmental conditions. Investigators examined the runway surface conditions and the impact point at the edge of the concrete strip. The investigation also considered the pilot's visual perception during the final stages of the approach, specifically regarding the impact of sunlight on visibility.