What happened
On 2 April 2000, a Cessna 182K, registration G-AVGY, was conducting a private flight from East Winch, Norfolk, to a farmstrip located at Manea, Cambridgeshire. The weather conditions upon arrival were characterized by good visibility, light westerly winds, and scattered cloud at 1,500 feet.
During the approach to Runway 30, the pilot configured the aircraft with 30° of flap. Although the approach speed was appropriate, the aircraft made contact with the damp grass runway significantly further down the strip than intended. Due to the lack of remaining runway length, the aircraft overran the end of the airfield, entered a ditch, and subsequently overturned. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, fuselage, and wings. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, escaped the wreckage through the cabin door without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the touchdown point and the pilot's recent flying history. The investigation established that the pilot had a total of 208 flying hours, with 133 hours on this specific type. However, the pilot's recent experience was limited, having flown only 5 hours in the preceding 90 days and no hours within the previous 28 days.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's misjudgment of the touchdown point, which resulted in a landing too far down the runway.
- This error was attributed to a combination of the calm wind conditions and the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.
- The damp surface of the grass runway contributed to the insufficient stopping distance available after the long touchdown.