Background
The pilot purchased the Mooney M20B, registration G-JDIX, in August 2009 and flew it to Hohenems Airport, Austria. He also owned a Morane Saulnier 880 Rallye, which was destroyed in a forced landing accident in November 2009. In February 2010, he flew G-JDIX to Biberach Airport in Southern Germany, intending to transfer the aircraft to the German register, which did not happen. He later arranged with a maintenance facility at Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk to carry out maintenance, planning to fly from Biberach to Old Buckenham on 9 May 2010.
History of the Flight
Before departure, the pilot fueled the aircraft with 106 liters of fuel and loaded a single bag. Takeoff from Biberach occurred at 1226 hrs after a rejected first attempt reportedly due to inadequate airspeed. The flight plan indicated a duration of 3 hours 30 minutes with fuel endurance of 4 hours 20 minutes. At about 1620 hrs, the pilot contacted Old Buckenham Air/Ground frequency for airfield details: Runway 07 in use, wind 040°(M) at 8 kt, fine weather with broken cloud at 2,500 ft and visibility over 10 km. About 10 minutes later, he called 'DOWNWIND' then 'finals'. When the aircraft did not land, staff checked with Tibenham airfield (4.5 nm southeast) and learned the aircraft had landed there unexpectedly. GPS data showed the aircraft had orbited south of Old Buckenham before landing at Tibenham.
At Tibenham, gliding operations were using Runway 03. The pilot of G-JDIX made no radio calls and landed on the out-of-use Runway 33, which was crosswind and crossed by glider cables. The approach appeared low and fast, possibly without flaps. The aircraft bounced several times and used 1,100 m of the 1,250 m runway. After parking, the pilot spoke to club members, who described him as highly agitated, distressed, sweating profusely, and voluble about personal family issues. He explained he landed at Tibenham due to concerns about the aircraft's brakes and the short runway at Old Buckenham (800 m with 640 m Landing Distance Available). He did not seek engineering assistance; a brief external check found nothing amiss. Club members encouraged him to delay the last leg, but he was keen to continue. He was instructed to taxi for Runway 03 and contact launch control, but instead taxied to Runway 33 and took off without engine checks or radio calls. He climbed to about 1,000 ft agl and departed on approximately the runway track.
Shortly after, the pilot called Old Buckenham again asking for airfield details, making comments about brakes and returning to Tibenham. Personnel understood he intended to land at Tibenham. When nothing further was heard, they called Tibenham again, but the aircraft had not returned.
Accident
Witnesses saw the aircraft flying at very low height and speed about 500–700 m from the Runway 07 threshold at Old Buckenham. It was not on a recognized approach path and turned away shortly before the accident. Witnesses described a low-speed departure from controlled flight: the aircraft dropped a wing and descended rapidly, disappearing behind trees. No smoke or flames were seen. One witness near the flight path saw the anti-collision beacon on, heard the engine at near idle power, but noted a brief marked increase in engine noise just before the loss of control. Emergency services were called. A fire broke out with small explosions. The pilot was found lying across the front seats, apparently deceased, and later examination showed his seat belt was unfastened.
Wreckage
The wreckage was located about one mile west of Runway 07 threshold. The aircraft was largely intact within 10 m of the main wreckage. Fire consumed most of the cockpit and upper fuselage. The left wingtip and leading edge were significantly damaged; the right wing less so. A 10 cm deep by 1 m vertical mark in the ground next to the lower rear fuselage was consistent with the right side of the rear fuselage moving sideways with low energy. It was concluded the aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down, left-wing-low attitude at low speed with significant rotation, consistent with a spin to the left. The propeller was found 2 m away; one blade was buried with tip sheared off, the other bent backwards. The propeller was probably rotating at impact and stopped in about half a revolution. About 10 liters of fuel were recovered from the right wing tank.
Recorded Information
The aircraft's transponder was selected ON with altitude reporting, but radar showed no returns for G-JDIX, while other aircraft were visible at low altitude. The damaged transponder fascia suggested the selections were due to impact. A portable GPS navigation unit yielded route data up to early November 2009, but not the accident flight. The aircraft and engine logbooks were fire-damaged. Post-accident performance calculations based on GPS data and Mooney performance data indicated the pilot's planned 3.5-hour duration was based on direct track without reserves; actual flight time was around 4 hours. Using normal cruise figures, the aircraft leaving Tibenham would have had less than 5 US gallons of fuel, sufficient for about 30 minutes without reserves. The fuel sample from the right tank, though fire-affected, was probably fit for purpose.
The circumstances of the loss of control could not be determined. However, sufficient evidence existed to cause doubt about the pilot's fitness to safely act as pilot of an aircraft on the day of the accident.