What happened
On 27 July 2008, a Skyranger 912(2), registration G-CDWB, was performing a private flight at Roche Airfield in Cornwall. Following a standard approach and touchdown on the north-westerly runway, the aircraft encountered a boundary fence. The impact caused the aircraft to invert. During the incident, both the pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries.
Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot noted that the ground speed during the landing roll appeared significantly higher than usual. Despite the pilot attempting to use the wheel brakes, the aircraft did not decelerate at the expected rate.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing roll and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation established that after the initial touchdown, the pilot observed a shift in wind direction, with the wind moving to a south-easterly flow.
Findings
- The aircraft struck a boundary fence during the landing phase.
- A change in wind direction occurred during the approach, resulting in the aircraft landing with a tailwind.
- This shift in wind produced a ground speed that was higher than the pilot had anticipated for the approach.
- The increased ground speed, combined with the lack of effective deceleration via the wheel brakes, led to the aircraft overrunning the runway area and striking the fence.