What happened
On May 19, 2000, a Piper PA-28-181, registration EC-HMM, was conducting flight tests at the Casarrubio del Monte Aerodrome. After completing various maneuvers, the pilot attempted to land on runway 26. The initial approach was unsuccessful due to excessive altitude, forcing the pilot to execute a missed approach.
During the second landing attempt, the aircraft touched down past the midpoint of the runway. Despite the late touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes but was unable to stop the aircraft before it reached the end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently exited the runway pavement, coming to a stop a few meters beyond the threshold. The impact resulted in significant damage to the landing gear and a propeller, though both occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process during the two landing attempts. Investigators examined the flight path and the altitude of the aircraft during the approach phase. The analysis established that the first approach was flawed because the aircraft was too high, necessitating a go-around. On the second attempt, the aircraft maintained an excessive height over the runway threshold. The investigation noted that although the pilot had the opportunity to initiate another missed approach upon realizing the high approach profile, they chose to proceed with the landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was improper pilot technique during the approach and landing phase.
- The pilot failed to execute a missed approach on the second attempt despite an unstable approach profile.
- The late touchdown point, occurring past the halfway mark of the runway, left insufficient distance for the aircraft to decelerate within the remaining runway length.