What happened
On 21 August 2000, a Cessna 310K, registration G-OBNF, was performing a private cross-country flight when it encountered difficulties during landing at Fadmoor Airfield, Yorkshire. The flight, which had lasted approximately 75 minutes, concluded amidst weather conditions characterized by low cloud, thunderstorms in the area, and a wet runway surface.
The pilot attempted an approach and landing on the grass Runway 32, which featured a 3.2° upslope. Although the aircraft touched down at the start of the runway, the application of brakes provided minimal deceleration. The pilot initially believed the aircraft would safely clear the end of the runway via the designated overrun area; however, as the end of the strip approached, it became apparent that the overrun area had been recently ploughed. The aircraft subsequently entered the soft, turned earth, causing the nose landing gear to collapse. The impact resulted in damage to the nose cone, landing gear doors, and one propeller.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the runway conditions, noting the wet surface and the uphill gradient of the landing strip. The assessment focused on the state of the overrun area and the effectiveness of the braking action during the landing roll.