What happened
On 9 August 1998, a Piper PA-28-161, registration G-BLEJ, was conducting a private flight when it encountered difficulties during its approach to City of Derry Airport in Northern Ireland. The aircraft was operating under a cloud base of approximately 2,000 feet in light wind conditions. During the landing phase, the pilot experienced some difficulty in identifying the airfield. The aircraft subsequently touched down well into the 1,459-metre runway. Following the landing, the pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a halt before it entered the overrun area. There were no injuries to the single pilot or the two passengers on board, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
An investigation was initiated following the submission of an aircraft accident report by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the circumstances surrounding the approach and the landing performance of the G-BLEJ. Investigators examined the weather conditions at the time of the occurrence, noting the light winds and the 2,000-foot cloud base. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the sequence of events leading to the aircraft entering the overrun area.