What happened
On 2 August 1998, a Europa aircraft, registration G-BWIV, was performing a series of practice circuits at a farm strip near Kirkchrist Farm, Newton Stewart. The weather conditions were clear with a light wind supporting Runway 35, which featured a 2° up-slope and a steeper 4° gradient halfway down the strip.
Following two initial go-arounds, the pilot successfully completed two landings. However, during the third landing attempt, the aircraft bounced after striking a ridge located approximately one-third of the way down the runway. Although the pilot initially believed the bounce was manageable, the aircraft rebounded higher than expected, prompting a decision to execute a go-around. During the climb, the pilot applied full power and lowered the nose, but the aircraft struck the runway a second time. While attempting to climb against the 4° gradient, the aircraft lost control while still near the ground in ground effect. The aircraft drifted to the left and struck a wire fence roughly 10 metres from the runway edge, causing damage to the left wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight sequence, the runway topography, and the pilot's decision-making process during the landing attempts. The investigation established that the pilot had a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 613 total flying hours, though only 29 of those were on this specific aircraft type. It was also noted that the pilot had relatively limited recent flying experience, with only 4 hours logged in the preceding 90 days.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing due to contact with a fence.
- The pilot's late decision to initiate the go-around was a primary factor in the loss of control.
- A lack of recent flying practice contributed to the difficulty in managing the aircraft during the bounced landing and subsequent climb.