What happened
On April 16, 2011, an APEX DR 400/140 B aircraft, registration PH-ASD, was performing a solo training flight as part of a private pilot license requirement. The flight originated at Seppe Airport, included a stop at Hoogeveen, and was destined for Hilversum.
Prior to arrival, the pilot had contacted the Hilversum airport service via telephone to provide an estimated arrival time and to inquire about the weather and the active runway. During that call, the airport official stated that runway 18 was in use. However, shortly before the aircraft's arrival, the wind direction had shifted, and the active runway had been changed to runway 31.
Upon approaching Hilversum, the pilot attempted to establish radio contact with the airport but failed, as the aircraft's radio was not tuned to the correct frequency. Relying on the outdated information from the earlier telephone call, the pilot proceeded with a landing on runway 18. The landing was performed with a high ground speed due to a tailwind. The aircraft touched down approximately halfway down the runway, and the pilot misjudged the remaining distance to stop. While attempting to steer away from a ditch at the end of the runway, the aircraft slid into the ditch, resulting in significant damage to the right wing, landing gear, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation by the Dutch Safety Board examined the pilot's actions, the radio communications, and the airport's operational status. It was established that the pilot did not verify the active runway by observing the windsock or the signal square (seinenvierkant) upon arrival. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot's failure to establish radio contact was due to an incorrect frequency setting. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience level, noting he was a student pilot nearing the completion of his training.
Findings
- The pilot relied on outdated information obtained via telephone prior to the flight, failing to account for changes in runway usage or wind direction.
- The pilot did not check the signal square or the windsock to verify the active runway and current wind conditions.
- The pilot failed to establish radio contact because the radio frequency was incorrectly set.
- A high ground speed during landing, caused by a tailwind, contributed to the inability to stop before the end of the runway.
- The pilot misjudged the available runway length, likely due to an optical illusion regarding the adjacent field.
Safety action
- Pilots should always observe the windsock to verify that the reported runway is compatible with the current wind direction.
- At uncontrolled airfields, the signal square must be used as the official indicator of the active runway, regardless of prior verbal information.