Accident Summary
On 1 July 2011 at 0800 UTC, a Piper PA32-301FT (registration N116KY) landed at Vallance By-Ways airstrip, which is part of the Gatwick Aviation Museum near Gatwick, England. The aircraft failed to stop before the end of the runway and collided with a truck and two Avro Shackleton aircraft parked as museum exhibits. The three occupants—one pilot and two passengers—were not injured.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, manufactured in 2004, was powered by a single Lycoming 10-540 SER piston engine. The pilot, aged 34, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence and had 1,156 hours total flying experience, including 19 hours on type. In the previous 90 days, he had flown 102 hours, with 38 hours in the last 28 days. The flight was private, originating from Full Sutton Airfield in York.
Airstrip Information
Vallance By-Ways is a grass strip 465 meters long, located 600 meters north of and parallel to Gatwick’s main runway. The eastern end features a row of trees, with the tallest measuring 55 feet. At the western end, several aircraft, including two Avro Shackletons, are parked. The museum’s website previously displayed an extract from a guidebook stating the strip length as 553 meters and noting 50-foot-tall trees at the western end.
Sequence of Events
The pilot contacted Gatwick Tower, which cleared him to enter the zone for landing at Vallance By-Ways and provided headings. After three orbits, the pilot located the strip and initiated a westerly approach. The approach appeared normal, with the aircraft passing close to the trees. Shortly after touchdown, the pilot realized the aircraft would not stop before the end of the strip and attempted to steer left to avoid an Avro Shackleton. The aircraft yawed left but skidded. Its right wing struck a truck, severing the wingtip, then spun to the right, coming to rest with its nose under the engine of a second Shackleton. The pilot shut down the engine and the occupants vacated without injury.
Damage included the left flap, right wing, propeller, engine, and cowling.
Analysis and Conclusions
The Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) specified an unfactored landing distance required (LDR) of 527 meters for the aircraft. This was less than the published strip length of 553 meters but greater than the actual 465 meters. UK Civil Aviation Authority publications recommend applying a safety factor of 1.43 to all landing distances and an additional 1.15 for dry grass, resulting in a required distance of 867 meters—exceeding both the published and actual strip length. The POH LDR calculation assumes crossing the start of the strip at 50 feet above ground level; this was not possible due to the tall trees on approach, increasing the LDR. The pilot landed on a strip shorter than both the published length and the unfactored LDR. Although the published length exceeded the unfactored LDR, it was less than the LDR with recommended safety factors applied. As a safety action, the museum updated its website to reflect the actual strip length.