History of the Flight
The aircraft departed Exeter Airport at approximately 1100 hrs with two pilots and two passengers. After an uneventful VFR cruise, the pilot was cleared by ATC to descend and join on right base for Runway 09 at Scilly Isles Airport. The weather was CAVOK with a surface wind of 040°/9 kt.
Landing and Go-Around
The commander flew a final approach at approximately 80 kt with 40 degrees of flap selected. After crossing the perimeter fence, he closed the throttle and crossed the threshold at approximately 70 kt. The aircraft touched down an estimated 80 m from the threshold and bounced slightly. It drifted to the left edge of the runway. As the aircraft approached the asphalt section, the commander elected to initiate a go-around due to insufficient remaining runway. He selected full power; the engine sounded normal, but the aircraft only briefly became airborne again before the left wing dropped. The aircraft veered left, leaving the paved surface, continued down a small grass slope, slid to the right, and impacted a stone wall before stopping.
Eyewitness Accounts
The air traffic controller observed the aircraft high on final approach, then a rapid descent. It landed firmly abeam the second set of runway side lights from the threshold. The aircraft drifted left but maintained runway heading, then became airborne briefly in a nose-up attitude, with the tail almost touching the runway, before settling onto the grass. At the intersection of Runways 15/33, it became airborne again, remaining very low in a pronounced nose-up attitude. The left wing dropped and the aircraft started turning rapidly to the left. The controller then initiated emergency procedures and did not see the impact.
Five eyewitnesses near the airport terminal described the approach as high and fast, and the landing as hard. They saw the aircraft become airborne in a nose-high attitude, touchdown again, then become airborne a second time in a nose-high attitude. They observed the left wing drop just before the aircraft veered left and lost sight as it descended towards an adjacent field.
Pilot Comments
The commander had not previously landed at Scilly Isles Airport and did not calculate a Landing Distance Required (LDR) before takeoff. He stated that both pilots were aware that the shorter runway at Scilly Isles was within the LDR of the aircraft, and the co-pilot had previously landed there in a similar aircraft without incident.
The co-pilot reported the final approach with 40 degrees of flap appeared normal. The aircraft landed at approximately 75 kt, halfway along the grass section, bounced slightly, and drifted left. As the aircraft reached the top of a rise, the commander commenced a go-around and transmitted this to ATC. Although full power was selected, the aircraft did not climb, the left wing dropped, and it landed back on the left edge of the runway. He stated that the engine sounded correct throughout and that he never took control.
Passenger Accounts
The two passengers in the rear cabin (forward-facing seats) reported the aircraft landed long and firmly. They recalled full power being applied and the aircraft briefly becoming airborne again in a nose-high attitude before the wing dropped. The aircraft then veered left, landed in the adjacent field, and skidded sideways into the wall. The passenger in the right rear seat suffered a broken left shoulder and dislocated right shoulder when the left seat passenger's body crushed him against the cabin wall. Both passengers wore lap harnesses only.
Airfield Information
Runway 09 at Scilly Isles Airport has a Landing Distance Available (LDA) of 523 m, consisting of 236 m of grass followed by 287 m of asphalt. The first 100 m rises at a 1:20 gradient and the last 100 m descends at a 1:23 gradient. No Precision Approach Path Indicators are available. The UK AIP warns of the hump-backed nature and advises pilots of different braking characteristics on grass/asphalt sections.
Conclusion
The Pilot's Operating Handbook indicated a LDR of 432 m for a level dry runway with 40° flap, at 3,300 lb and 5 kt headwind. Applying the CAA-recommended safety factor would make the LDR 617 m, exceeding the LDA. The aircraft touched down 118 m from the threshold, leaving insufficient runway to stop.