What happened
On 26 August 1998, a Slingsby T61F Venture T MK2, registration G-BUED, was conducting a private flight at St Mary's Airport, Isles of Scilly. During the landing phase on Runway 33, the pilot attempted to manage the approach considering the runway's marked upslope. To compensate for this gradient, the pilot initiated an extended flare. However, the aircraft made a heavy impact with the runway surface approximately 50 metres past the threshold.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the touchdown and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The surface wind was recorded at 030°/12 kt. The pilot, who held a Private Pilot's Licence with a Night Rating and had 464 total flying hours, provided information regarding the aircraft's behavior during the final moments of the flight. The investigation focused on the interaction between the aircraft's low speed during the flare and the local topography.
Findings
- The aircraft landed heavily on the runway surface.
- The pilot's decision to extend the flare was an attempt to account for the runway's upslope.
- Turbulence caused by a hillock located upwind of the aircraft contributed to the instability of the aircraft during the landing.
- The low airspeed resulting from the extended flare maneuver further impacted the control of the aircraft during the touchdown.