Accident Summary
On 7 June 2012, at approximately 0930 UTC, a Europa aircraft (registration G-EOFS) was substantially damaged during an accident at Nayland Airfield, Suffolk. The aircraft was on a private flight from Beccles Airfield to Nayland, carrying the pilot and one passenger. The pilot, aged 45, held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had 309 total flying hours, of which 255 were on the type. Both occupants were injured: the pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger suffered serious injuries.
Flight History
The pilot had not previously landed at Nayland and was aware that the 600 m grass runway (Runway 32) must be used in an uphill direction due to its steep slope. He had prepared by visiting the airstrip and speaking with a locally based pilot. The weather was dry and generally fine, with good visibility and scattered cloud. The surface wind was from 160° at about 12 kt, resulting in an estimated tailwind on final approach to Runway 32 of between 10 and 15 kt.
Final approach was flown with full flap and an airspeed of approximately 60 kt. As the aircraft neared the runway, it experienced sink, and the pilot applied power to arrest the descent. The flight path was regained, but the aircraft gained about 10 kt of airspeed. Touchdown occurred further along the runway than intended and at a faster speed. After cresting the top of the slope, the pilot determined that insufficient runway remained to stop safely and decided to abort the landing.
Go-Around and Accident
The pilot applied full power, and the aircraft became airborne. However, it only reached a height of about 15 to 20 ft before beginning to sink slowly. Focused on the area ahead, the pilot felt unable to look inside the cockpit to move the flap control to the go-around setting of 15°, so the flaps remained at full. The aircraft continued at a very low height toward a hedgerow. The pilot attempted to clear it by applying a large amount of rearward control column. The tail or landing gear struck the hedgerow, and the aircraft continued toward a concrete retaining wall along the far side of a private driveway.
Realizing that he did not have the performance to clear the wall, the pilot manoeuvred the aircraft to avoid hitting it, causing the right wingtip to strike the ground. The aircraft yawed, crashed onto the driveway, and came to rest facing back toward the airstrip. There was no fire. The pilot turned off the fuel and vacated the aircraft by the door before helping his passenger to escape. The passenger, who was more seriously injured, was pulled to a safe distance.
Aftermath
All emergency services attended the scene. The passenger was taken to Colchester Hospital, where he was found to have suffered broken bones and multiple lacerations. The pilot attended hospital later with smaller lacerations, grazing, and a neck injury.
The pilot considered that the aircraft may have been affected by an increasing tailwind as it became airborne at the crest of the hill. He felt that a combination of the tailwind, low airspeed, and relatively high aircraft weight had contributed to the accident. He reflected that it would have been prudent to have discontinued the landing attempt in the prevailing tailwind conditions.