What happened
On 12 September 2008, a Pioneer 300, registration G-ZZZG, was performing a private flight at Abergavenny (Hardwick) Airfield in Monmouthshire. The aircraft's approach and landing on Runway 33 were initially normal. However, approximately 30 metres after touching down, the aircraft drifted toward the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to use nosewheel steering and corrective rudder inputs to maintain the centreline, but these efforts failed to prevent the deviation.
Recognising that continuing the landing roll would result in the aircraft striking the airfield perimeter fence and nearby trees, the pilot applied full power and additional control inputs. This manoeuvre caused the aircraft to spin 270°, eventually coming to rest after striking the fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the incident, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the airfield's physical characteristics and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The grass runway at Abergavenny features a slight slope that creates a shallow hollow roughly 80 metres into the runway. The investigation established that heavy rainfall preceding the flight had left the ground in a waterlogged state. Consequently, water had accumulated in the aforementioned hollow, making the surface extremely soft.
Upon inspection of the aircraft, it was noted that the landing gear and the left wing had been heavily contaminated with mud, confirming the presence of saturated soil on the runway surface.