History of the Flight
The pilot planned a private flight from Liverpool to Wolverhampton, then to Shobdon, and back to Liverpool. The first two legs and landings were uneventful. On return to Liverpool, the pilot received a VFR clearance from the Approach Controller to enter the Liverpool zone. After holding for approximately 10 minutes at Helsby Hill, the pilot was cleared to join the circuit on base leg for an approach to Runway 27. The pilot was then transferred to the Tower frequency and given clearance to land.
The pilot stated that as he flew the approach, he was blinded by the sun and had difficulty seeing the runway. He attempted to fly the aircraft along the path of the approach lights and found visibility better by flying lower than normal. The pilot considered going around but, approximately halfway down the approach, he sighted the 'piano keys' and decided to continue using them as a reference. However, it was not until a late stage that he could see the lights on the PAPIS, which were all red. Realizing he was very low, the pilot applied full power and attempted to climb away. Despite his efforts, the aircraft struck and uprooted a 30-foot-high wooden stanchion mounting an approach light, then struck the ground before hitting and uprooting a second stanchion. During the impacts, the right wing detached, and the aircraft came to rest facing back up the approach. Both the pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was extensively damaged.
Air Traffic Control Report
The ATCO on duty reported that he could not see G-BTHA when he cleared the pilot to land but established from the air traffic monitor that the aircraft was three miles out on final approach. When the controller next checked, the aircraft was low but appeared stable, which did not cause concern as training aircraft often flew varying profiles. After attending to other aircraft, the controller looked back and saw G-BTHA less than half a mile from the threshold and still very low. When the aircraft descended to a dangerous height (tree level), the controller activated the crash alarm. He did not contact the pilot to avoid distraction. The aircraft then disappeared from sight, and the captain of a commercial aircraft at hold Golf reported the crash. The controller instructed a following aircraft to go-around. With depleted fire cover, all aircraft movements were halted, and the airfield closed until 1740 hrs. Emergency services quickly arrived and confirmed two casualties with serious injuries.
Comment
The pilot held a valid medical certificate issued six weeks before the accident; his revalidation check flight was valid until 28 August 2007. He stated that he did not appreciate how poor the visibility towards the sun was until he turned onto finals. He had set the airfield QFE on his altimeter but deliberately flew lower than normal without reference to the altimeter, believing visibility was better and that the 'piano keys' would provide a suitable visual reference. In retrospect, the pilot believes he should have gone around and held off until the sun had settled below the horizon.