What happened
On 2 January 2000, a Dornier Do 28-G92, registration HA-ACL, was conducting a private flight from Hibaldstow Airfield to Sherburn-in-Elmet Aerodrome in Yorkshire. During the approach to Runway 29, the pilot maintained an indicated airspeed of 80 kt with 20° flaps, utilizing flight idle or Beta 1 power settings.
As the aircraft reached the flare, the pilot selected the Beta 1 setting in an attempt to reduce the ground roll. During this maneuver, the aircraft descended approximately 6 to 7 feet before striking the runway and bouncing once. During the subsequent ground roll, the pilot observed significant vertical movement in the right engine. The aircraft eventually settled onto its right side, causing damage to the right landing gear, the engine, and the stub wing. Following the impact, the pilot shut off the fuel and electrical master switches and evacuated the aircraft. After confirming there was no fire, the pilot returned to the cockpit and discovered that the flaps had been set to the 52° (full) position.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the configuration of the aircraft during the landing phase and the pilot's actions during the flare. The investigation established that the aircraft was heavier than the pilot's typical landing weight due to the fuel load. Additionally, the investigation looked into the flap setting used during the final stage of the approach.