What happened
On 11 January 2001, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca, registration G-RVRB, was conducting a positioning flight from Newcastle to Manchester International Airport. During the approach, the pilot was instructed by Manchester Approach to extend the base leg to pass through the centreline of the runway to the east, following a request to accommodate a departing Boeing 757.
While maneuvering, the pilot turned left towards the town of Knutsford for a visual approach to Runway 06L. During this turn, the pilot observed edge lighting that he mistakenly believed belonged to the active runway. The aircraft subsequently descended onto the newly constructed Runway 06R, which was being used for testing purposes and was not yet officially in service. The aircraft overflew a vehicle positioned near the threshold of the incorrect runway before touching down further along the pavement. The Tower controller, observing the aircraft through binoculars, initially believed the aircraft was lined up for the correct runway, only realizing the error after the aircraft had already landed on the wrong surface.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances leading to the runway misidentification, including the pilot's workload and the airfield's configuration at the time. It was noted that the aircraft was operating under single-pilot conditions and was managing a high-speed approach amidst gusting winds.
Investigators also reviewed the airport's operational status, noting that Runway 06R/24L was undergoing calibration and that the approach lighting and PAPI for the new runway were not illuminated. The investigation looked into the pilot's previous experience at Manchester, which primarily involved operations on Runway 24R, and how this influenced his mental model of the airfield layout.