What happened
On 16 February 2002, a Grumman AA-5, registration G-BCEE, was performing a private flight approaching Runway 22L at Stapleford Tawney Airfield. During the approach, the pilot encountered a tailwind component, which caused the aircraft to maintain an excessive approach speed and float along the runway surface.
As the aircraft reached the end of the paved runway without making a firm touchdown, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. During the application of full power, the aircraft briefly made contact with the runway and experienced a leftward yaw, which was subsequently corrected by the pilot. However, as the aircraft approached a line of trees at the end of the runway, the pilot determined that a safe clearance could not be achieved and instead executed a forced landing in an adjacent grass field.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the accident report submitted by the pilot, established the sequence of events leading to the excursion from the paved surface. The crew, consisting of one pilot and one passenger, were both wearing appropriate lap and diagonal upper torso restraints during the flight. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, nosewheel, exhaust, firewall, and a radio aerial.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the excessive approach speed caused by a tailwind, which led to the aircraft floating down the runway.
- The decision to perform a forced landing was necessitated by the imminent risk of colliding with trees at the runway boundary.
- There were no injuries sustained by the two occupants of the aircraft.