What happened
On the morning of the incident, the crew of VP-CKM, an aircraft type not specified, departed Sheffield at 06:22 for Fairoaks, with London Heathrow as an alternate. Upon contacting the Fairoaks Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer (AFISO) at 06:50, the crew was instructed to delay landing until 07:00 to ensure fire cover was available. Weather conditions at the time included clear skies, mist with 1,200 metres visibility, and light winds.
Initially, the pilot intended to land on Runway 06, descending to 1,000 feet agl using the NDB and FMS. However, because the airfield was not visible, the crew decided to approach Runway 24 instead. During the approach, the crew configured the aircraft with landing gear down and intermediate flaps. As the aircraft approached the threshold, the pilot deployed speedbrakes. The crew noted a 5 kt tailwind on the FMS at 0.5 nm DME.
Upon touchdown, the commander applied full thrust reverse and moderate braking. While the pilot initially believed deceleration was sufficient, the braking effectiveness appeared to diminish. The co-pilot applied maximum braking pressure, noting the runway surface was damp and shiny. The aircraft failed to stop within the runway limits, exiting the paved surface and traveling 250 metres before coming to a halt. The crew evacuated via the cabin escape hatch, with the co-pilot assisting the commander after an initial difficulty opening the main door. The incident resulted in two injuries to the crew, including back injuries to the commander and minor cuts to the co-pilot.
Findings
- The runway surface was damp and shiny, which likely contributed to reduced braking effectiveness.
- The aircraft was experiencing a 5 kt tailwind during the landing phase.