What happened
On September 24, 2003, a Christen A-1 ‘Husky’, registration PH-GOZ, was performing glider towing operations at Hilversum Airport. Due to a faulty generator, the aircraft's battery was nearly depleted, which prevented the pilot from using the electric winch system to retract the tow cable. As a result, the pilot was forced to land with a 50-meter cable trailing behind the aircraft.
Because of trees located along the approach path, the pilot maintained a higher approach altitude than usual. This, combined with the trailing cable, led to the aircraft landing approximately halfway down the 540-meter runway. Upon touchdown, the pilot realized the aircraft's speed would prevent it from coming to a complete stop before the end of the runway. To avoid heavy braking, which the pilot feared might cause the aircraft to nose over, and noting that the remaining runway was insufficient for a go-around, the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from the runway end. In an effort to avoid a nearby ditch, the pilot executed a sharp left turn, causing the aircraft to skid sideways into the ditch. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and landing gear, though the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the decision-making process regarding the aircraft's mechanical state and the operational risks posed by the trailing cable. Investigators examined the impact of the trees on the approach path and the limitations of the short runway. The inquiry also evaluated the risks associated with operating an aircraft with a depleted battery and a non-functional generator in a towing capacity.