What happened
On 20 January 2011, a Reims Cessna FRA150L Aerobat, registration G-BCKV, was conducting a training flight at Netherthorpe Airfield in Yorkshire. The weather at the time was favorable, characterized by good visibility and light winds. While on final approach at approximately 500 feet, the student pilot noticed that the sun was positioned low on the horizon directly ahead, creating a significant glare. Because the pilot was not wearing sunglasses and the aircraft's sun-visor failed to sufficiently mitigate the brightness, visibility was severely impaired. Despite the visual obstruction, the student decided to proceed with the landing.
The aircraft touched down roughly halfway along the 553-meter grass runway. The pilot applied maximum braking, but the aircraft failed to stop within the available distance. The G-BCKV overran the end of runway 24 and collided with a hedge. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller, cowling, nose landing gear, and the leading edge of one wing. The student pilot sustained no injuries, and no fire occurred during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the cockpit environment, noting the lack of eye protection and the ineffectiveness of the sun-visor. The investigation also reviewed the student's training progress, noting that while the pilot had completed eight hours of solo flight, they had not yet been trained to perform go-around maneuvers under such challenging visual conditions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the overrun was the pilot's decision to continue the approach despite being blinded by the sun.
- The student pilot had not been instructed on how to execute a go-around when faced with such glare.
- The aircraft's sun-visor provided insufficient protection against the low-angle sunlight.
- The pilot was not utilizing sunglasses to mitigate the visual impairment.