What happened
On the evening of 31 December 2002, a Piper PA-46-500TP Meridian, registration N961JM, was conducting a private IFR flight from Chambery, France, to Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon. The pilot, intending to land at Dunkeswell, had previously checked weather reports for Exeter and was aware of a potential cloud base of 1,500 feet. As the aircraft approached the south coast of England, the pilot transitioned from controlled airspace to a visual approach.
Upon approaching Dunkeswell, the pilot found the airfield radio unresponsive and assumed the site had closed for the night. To assist with visual orientation in the absence of runway lighting, the pilot had previously placed reflective panels along the right edge of Runway 23. While navigating using GPS and visual landmarks such as an industrial site and local masts, the pilot encountered scattered cloud and mist pockets.
At approximately 2.5 nm from the threshold, the pilot initiated a go-around to divert to Exeter. However, after regaining visual contact with the runway, the pilot attempted to resume the approach. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a steep-sided valley, causing a rapid reduction in height. Despite an attempt to increase power, the aircraft struck trees 1,600 metres short of the displaced threshold. The impact tore the wings from the airframe, though the fuselage remained upright. There were no fatalities among the two occupants, though the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's approach procedures, the visibility conditions, and the terrain. Investigators reviewed meteorological data from an automated station at Dunkeswell, which recorded fog with obscured skies and visibility of only 100 metres around 1700 hrs. The investigation also looked into the use of visual aids, such as the reflective panels, and the pilot's reliance on landmarks like the industrial site and perimeter masts for orientation.
Findings
- The pilot attempted a night landing in fog at an airfield lacking runway lighting.
- Visual references for the runway were lost when the aircraft entered a patch of fog.
- The aircraft's descent rate increased sharply as it crossed the rising ground of a valley.
- The primary cause was the attempt to land at night in fog conditions using only limited ground lighting for orientation.