History of the Flight
The pilot, aged 64 with 1,038 flying hours (87 on type), departed Rochester Airport to have a transponder fitted at Deanland Airfield. The transit was uneventful at 1,800 ft. Weather was poor with light drizzle and broken cloud. With calm winds, the pilot elected a straight-in approach to Runway 24.
Deanland has a single unlicensed grass runway oriented 06/24, 500 m long by 27 m wide, elevation 65 ft AMSL. A substantial hedge several metres high borders the upwind end of Runway 24, with a gap at the threshold of Runway 06.
On final approach at about 4 nm, cloud obscured the runway, prompting a go-around to 1,300 ft to avoid noise-sensitive areas. After a wide circuit, a second approach was made. The approach was slightly higher than normal, flown at 85 kt instead of the promulgated 75 kt, resulting in a touchdown 20–30 ft beyond the normal point.
The Accident
Upon touchdown, the pilot noted the grass was very wet and partly waterlogged. Applying brakes caused a skid. He applied full power, raised flaps to takeoff position, and executed a go-around. Rotation took slightly longer due to the sticky surface, but the aircraft became airborne at about 420 m into the runway and climbed gradually. The pilot aimed for the hedge gap but the left wingtip struck the hedge top at about 15 ft, causing a yaw to the left. The right wing dropped, struck the ground, and the aircraft rotated approximately 180° before coming to rest facing the threshold of Runway 06.
The pilot isolated fuel and electrical systems and vacated the aircraft through the normal exit. He was uninjured; there was no fire. Airfield personnel arrived quickly.
Aircraft Performance and Runway Conditions
The Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) provides graphs for Landing Distance Required (LDR) and Landing Ground Roll Distance Required (LGRDR) from 50 ft, based on power-off, full flap, full stall touchdown, maximum braking, and a paved, level, dry runway. The POH states that effects of conditions not considered on the charts must be evaluated by the pilot, such as soft or grass runway surfaces.
At a landing weight of 1,043 kg, the POH gives an LDR of 434 m and LGRDR of 381 m. Applying CAA Safety Sense Leaflet guidance for wet grass, the LDR increases by 35% to 585 m, and LGRDR to 514 m. The declared Landing Distance Available (LDA) at Deanland was 457 m.
The wet grass surface degraded braking and acceleration performance. The retardation effect of the surface increased takeoff distance, preventing the aircraft from clearing the hedge.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot attributed the accident to a combination of factors: a slightly high approach speed (10 kt above normal) leading to a longer touchdown point; poor braking on wet grass causing a skid; and a longer-than-normal takeoff run due to surface retardation. The aircraft became airborne too late to clear the hedge. Performance calculations support this outcome.