What happened
On 14 September 2013, a Jodel D117, registration G-AZKP, was conducting a private flight to a farm strip located at Blair Atholl, Perthshire. The weather conditions were favorable, characterized by fine visibility and a light south-westerly wind. Upon approaching the destination, the pilot noted that the flag on the Blair Atholl Castle tower was slack, leading to the decision to land in a westerly direction.
The landing was initially performed at a speed of 45 knots with a normal touchdown. Due to concerns that the grass surface might be damp, the pilot allowed the aircraft to decelerate without immediate use of the brakes. As the aircraft rolled down the center of the strip, the pilot eventually applied the brakes. This application caused the aircraft to swing toward the right. Despite attempts to correct the direction using left rudder and the left brake, the pilot could not maintain the centerline. To prevent further deviation, the pilot shut down the engine and continued braking. The aircraft departed the mown area approximately 70 meters before the end of the strip, at which point the right mainwheel struck a ditch that had been hidden by long grass.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing roll and the environmental conditions at the Blair Atholl farm strip. The assessment focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding braking on a potentially wet surface and the visibility of obstacles at the edge of the landing area.