What happened
On April 30, 2001, a Cessna 182J, registration ZS-EHY, departed Umtata Aerodrome for a private flight to Mazeppa Bay with four passengers on board. During the flight, the crew encountered light rain and decreasing cloud bases, eventually flying at approximately 600ft amsl. Upon arriving at Mazeppa Bay, the pilot observed livestock on the runway and performed two low-level fly-pasts to clear the area.
While attempting to land on the grass runway, the pilot executed a go-around following an initial approach. During the second approach, the aircraft landed further down the runway than intended. As the pilot applied the brakes, the aircraft failed to decelerate effectively on the wet grass. Realizing there was insufficient runway remaining to perform another go-around, the pilot allowed the aircraft to skid off the end of the runway. The aircraft descended a three-foot embankment and came to rest on a gravel road, roughly five meters past the runway threshold. There were no injuries to the five occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the aircraft's performance during the landing phase. The investigation established that the runway surface was wet due to recent light rain. The crew also noted that the pilot had to fly a shallow approach due to the low cloud ceiling. The investigation focused on the aircraft's braking performance on the grass surface and the pilot's decision-making regarding the landing distance and the possibility of a go-around.
Findings
- The aircraft landed deeper into the runway than the pilot had anticipated.
- The wet grass runway significantly reduced the effectiveness of the braking system.
- The pilot misjudged the braking effectiveness on the slippery surface, leading to an inability to stop the aircraft before the runway end.