What happened
On 5 March 2013, a private flight involving an Escapade 912(2), registration G-CEIL, was conducting circuit training at St Michaels Airfield in Lancashire. The pilot had initially flown a previous leg earlier that day and returned to the airfield to perform further circuits. Although the weather was sunny with light winds, visibility was noted as being approximately 4,000 metres.
During the approach to Runway 18, the pilot observed a tractor operating in a nearby field near the runway intersection. The pilot later noted that they became distracted by the movement of this machinery. This distraction led to an overcompensation in the landing flare, resulting in the aircraft touching down much further down the runway than intended. The aircraft experienced two bounces before the pilot attempted a go-around. During this maneuver, one of the main landing gear wheels struck an earth bank at the end of the runway. This impact caused the aircraft to yaw to the left and slide into a field beyond the airfield.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, propeller, right wing tip, and landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the overrun and the environmental factors present at the time. The AAIB reviewed the pilot's observations regarding the visibility and the presence of the tractor near the runway intersection. The investigation also assessed the aircraft's handling during the bounced landing and the subsequent decision to initiate a go-around.
Findings
- The pilot was distracted by a tractor operating in a field near the runway intersection.
- This distraction caused the pilot to land much further along the runway strip than usual.
- The pilot became distracted by a tractor operating near the runway intersection.
- The pilot's decision to initiate a go-around after two bounces was appropriate, but the aircraft's position on the runway made an overrun unavoidable.