What happened
On June 26, 1970, a Piper PA-24-180 Comanche, registration G-AXMA, was participating in the 6th International Swiss Watch Air Rally. The flight, which originated in Newcastle, England, included several legs through France and Switzerland, with the final stage requiring a precision landing at the Biel-Kappelen airfield at a specific target time.
During the approach to runway 04, the pilot maintained a relatively high approach speed of approximately 90 mph. The aircraft touched down in the second half of the grass runway, roughly 300 meters before the end of the strip. Witnesses observed that the pilot did not immediately apply brakes. It was only after the aircraft had passed the runway threshold and was approximately 100 meters from a road crossing the runway axis that heavy braking was initiated. Despite the intense braking, which tore up the turf, the aircraft could not be stopped before it crossed the road. The aircraft struck the edges of the road and finally came to rest in a nearby cornfield.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's airworthiness, and the environmental conditions. The pilot was a highly experienced aviator with 2,400 total flight hours and a valid British private pilot license. The aircraft was found to be in an airworthy condition, with weight and balance within prescribed limits.
Investigators noted that the pilot was unfamiliar with the specific characteristics of Swiss grass airfields, as his primary operating experience involved paved runways. Furthermore, the pilot had completed a long, demanding flight from England and was managing the complex requirements of the air rally, which may have contributed to a lapse in situational awareness regarding the remaining runway length.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a long landing.
- The pilot touched down too far down the runway, leaving insufficient distance to decelerate.
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with short grass runways compared to paved surfaces contributed to the error.
- Potential pilot fatigue from a long-distance flight and the mental workload of the rally competition may have played a role in the misjudgment of the landing point.