What happened
On 24 August 2002, a Gulfstream AA-5B, registration G-BTII, was conducting a private VFR cross-country flight from Biggin Hill to Barton. While the initial forecast for the Manchester area suggested good visibility and a cloud base of 4,000 feet, the actual weather conditions had deteriorated significantly by the time the aircraft arrived. The pilot encountered a lowering cloud base of approximately 1,000 feet and reduced visibility of roughly 4,000 metres due to rain.
Upon arriving at Barton, the pilot attempted to land on Runway 27 South twice but was forced to perform go-arounds because of the low cloud height. The pilot then transitioned to Runway 09 S. Following a third go-around, a final approach was made. The aircraft touched down approximately two-thirds of the way down the grass runway. Due to the combination of a long touchdown, wet grass, and a slight tailwind, the aircraft failed to stop within the available distance and overran the end of the runway, striking a hedge at roughly 25 kt. There were no fatalities and no injuries among the four people on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the weather conditions, the pilot's approach, and the runway surface. It was noted that the pilot had experienced significant concern due to the weather being much worse than originally forecast. The investigation also looked at the pilot's experience, noting they had 173 total flying hours, with only 13 hours on this specific type. The investigation established that the pilot had not previously performed downwind landings under such restricted visibility and weather conditions.