What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2012-03-12 involved a Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair, registration G-KIKX, at Challock, near Ashford, Kent, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the accident was the decision to descend below the safety altitude while relying on GPS data for navigation, which was compromised by an erroneous destination input.

GPS input error leads to terrain strike in Kent

A Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair crashed near Ashford after a pilot inadvertently programmed the wrong destination into the GPS, leading to a descent below safety altitude.

What happened

On 12 March 2012, a Cessna T2/206H Turbo Stationair, registration G-KIKX, was involved in a terrain strike near Challock, Kent. The flight, a private operation, was intended to ferry the aircraft from Tilstock Airfield to Headcorn Airfield.

Following a delay at the departure airfield due to incomplete aircraft documentation, the pilot departed Sleap Airfield at approximately 1710 hrs. The flight proceeded uneventfully through much of the route, but as the aircraft approached North Kent, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather and rapidly fading light. The pilot, who was unfamiliar with this specific aircraft, relied on a GPS unit for navigation and to guide a descent through cloud layers.

During the descent, the pilot applied power to arrest the descent, but the aircraft struck the ground at an elevation of approximately 580 ft amsl. The impact caused extensive damage to the engine and the front fuselage. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to vacate the aircraft quickly.

The investigation

The AAIB investigation established that the pilot had inadvertently programmed the wrong destination into the GPS. Instead of selecting Headcorn (EGKH), the pilot entered the waypoint for the nearby Challock gliding site (EGKE). Because the two locations are in close proximity, the resulting track and distance error were not immediately obvious.

Investigators found that the GPS unit had a defective screen that obscured part of the data entry field, making it difficult to verify the accuracy of the input. Furthermore, the pilot was operating in a state of fatigue following a long working week and was flying an aircraft he had only recently been introduced to. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not identified a suitable alternate airfield for a landing at the unlit Headcorn airfield in the event of worsening weather.

Findings

The pilot descended the aircraft below the safety altitude while using the GPS as the primary means of navigation.
An erroneous destination was entered into the GPS, directing the aircraft over higher terrain than intended.
The pilot was experiencing fatigue at the end of a stressful working week.
A defect in the GPS screen hindered the ability to verify waypoint data during entry.
The flight was conducted in deteriorating weather and fading light without a confirmed alternate landing site.