What happened
On 4 September 2007, a Reims Cessna F152, registration G-BLZH, was conducting a private flight from Rochester to Deanland Airfield. During the approach to Runway 24, the pilot configured the aircraft with full flaps, intending to execute a short-field landing. The airfield's grass runway is 500 m in length, and at the time of the incident, the surface was wet.
Upon touching down on the runway centerline, the pilot applied the brakes. The aircraft subsequently began to drift toward the left side of the runway. The aircraft exited the end of the runway, rotating approximately 270 degrees before coming to a halt. During the excursion, the left wing made contact with a low hangar located at the end of the runway, and the left elevator struck the side of the building. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to the left wing and left elevator.
The investigation
Investigators examined the landing performance requirements for the aircraft on the specific runway conditions. While the manufacturer's flight manual provides a landing distance of 1,200 ft (366 m) under ideal conditions with a new aircraft and engine, the investigation noted that these figures do not account for real-world variables.
To determine the necessary safety margins, the investigation applied a factor of 1.43 for landing and 1.6 to account for the aircraft's condition and the slippery nature of the wet grass. This calculation resulted in a required landing distance of approximately 837 m, which significantly exceeded the available 500 m runway length at Deanland.
Findings
- The pilot believed the touchdown should have occurred 50 m shorter and at a 5 kt slower speed.
- Recent wet weather had rendered the short grass strip slippery.
- The required landing distance for the aircraft on the wet grass exceeded the available runway length.