What happened
On December 7, 2003, a Diamond HK 36 TTC, registration PH-1224, was performing a local flight at Lelystad Airport. Following a ninety-minute flight, the aircraft entered the airfield circuit. Due to another aircraft performing a wide turn ahead of it, the pilot of the PH-1ert224 was required to follow a similar pattern.
During the final approach to runway 05, the aircraft's right wingtip collided with an ILS antenna located approximately 180 meters before the runway threshold at an altitude of roughly 4 meters. The impact caused the aircraft to lose stability and strike the ground. The aircraft subsequently spun 360 degrees around the top of the antenna before sliding and coming to a halt just before the paved portion of the runway. Both occupants of the aircraft escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot was operating the aircraft at an altitude of 700 feet and a speed of 140 km/h in near-calm wind conditions. As the aircraft transitioned to the final approach leg, the pilot reduced power and selected the first flap setting to increase the descent rate, bringing the airspeed down to 120 km/h.
Findings
- The collision was the result of a pilot error in judgment regarding the aircraft's altitude.
- The pilot realized the aircraft was too low and attempted to apply power to correct the descent, but the maneuver was initiated too late to avoid the antenna.
- The impact resulted in significant damage to the aircraft's wing, propeller, and the ILS antenna itself.