Accident Overview
On 19 October 1999, a Piper PA-23-250 twin-engine aircraft, registration G-WSFT, was involved in a landing accident at Filton’s Runway 09. The aircraft, manufactured in 1977 and powered by two Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 piston engines, sustained substantial damage to its propellers and shock loading to the engines. Minor damage was reported to the landing gear doors footstep and antennas. The two occupants—the student pilot and the instructor—were uninjured.
Flight Details
The aircraft was conducting a circuit training flight from Runway 09, which has a tarmac surface and a landing distance available of 2,125 metres. The weather was fine with a surface wind from 060° to 070° at 20 knots. The student pilot was performing below the required standard for visual circuits, needing basic control work to achieve the correct final visual approach path.
Crew Actions
According to the instructor’s report, prior to landing the student forgot to select the landing gear down. The instructor, distracted and fatigued, also forgot to verify the gear position. The instructor had been on duty for 8 hours at the time of the accident and had 14 hours of rest available before duty commenced. The commander held an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence, was 41 years old, and had 5,400 total flying hours, including 450 hours on type. His recent flying included 120 hours in the last 90 days and 30 hours in the last 28 days.
Landing and Evacuation
The aircraft touched down at the start of the runway, slewed to the right, and stopped on the paved surface to the right of the runway centreline. Both the instructor and student, wearing lap and diagonal seat belts, vacated the aircraft via the main exit without injury.