What happened
On 17 October 2012, a Slingsby T67M260 Firefly, registration G-BWXD, was performing a private flight at Beverley Airfield in East Yorkshire. The pilot was attempting to land on Runway 12, a grass strip, with the intention of refueling before proceeding to Wombleton Airfield.
The aircraft touched down approximately one third of the way down the runway at a speed of roughly 65 kt with full flaps extended. During the landing roll, the pilot attempted to decelerate by pumping the brakes; however, this technique proved ineffective due to the moisture on the grass surface. As the aircraft continued along the runway, the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft to the right to avoid a deep dyke located less than 50 metres from the runway end. The maneuver could not be completed, and the aircraft ran into the dyke, coming to a rest with its nose submerged in water.
There were no injuries to the pilot following the incident.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators noted that the pilot was experienced, with 665 total flying hours, 4t5 of which were on this specific type. The pilot had previously landed at Beverley Airfield on seventeen occasions. The investigation examined the runway conditions, the aircraft's braking performance on wet grass, and the pilot's decision-making process regarding the landing distance and the subsequent turn attempt.