What happened
On 5 March 2006, a Rockwell Commander 112TC, registration G-SAAB, was performing a private flight at Retford/Gamston Airport in Nottinghamshire. The weather conditions at the time featured a wind from 310 degrees at 16 knots, creating a crosswind component relative to Runway 03.
During the landing sequence, the pilot reported that the initial touchdown appeared normal. However, immediately after the nose wheel made contact with the runway, the aircraft drifted to the left. The pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft's direction or steer it back toward the runway centerline. As the aircraft veered off the paved surface, it crossed a ditch, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in an adjacent field. The pilot exited the aircraft without injury, and no fire occurred during the incident.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation was informed by the pilot's accident report and observations from a flying instructor who witnessed the event. The instructor noted that the aircraft appeared to be drifting during the landing and observed that the pilot had not corrected for the crosswind upon touchdown.
Technical examinations were conducted on the aircraft's landing gear and steering mechanisms. An engineering investigation performed by a repair company found no mechanical defects in the steering system or the landing gear that could have caused the unexpected deviation from the runway centerline. Additionally, the pilot's flying records indicated limited recent experience, with only two hours of flight time logged in the 90 days preceding the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the engine, cowling, propeller, engine mounts, and the nose landing gear.
- There were no mechanical failures identified in the aircraft's steering or landing gear systems.
- The pilot had a total of 147 flying hours, but had flown only two hours in the preceding 90 days.
- The primary cause of the excursion was the failure to correct for the crosswind component during the landing phase.