What happened
On August 30, 2015, at approximately 12:19 local time, a PA-28-181 Archer II, registration HB-PCB, was performing a VFR landing at the Speck-Fehraltorf aerodrome (LSZK). During the approach to runway 12, the pilot misidentified a stubble field, running parallel to the active runway, as the actual landing strip. This error was caused by the field's appearance in the backlight, which made it visually indistinguishable from the runway.
Upon touchdown on the field, the pilot noticed the actual runway running alongside the aircraft and attempted to steer the plane toward it to avoid uneven terrain. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a furrow in the ground separating the stubble field from the runway. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, bringing the aircraft to a halt. The incident resulted in two serious injuries among the passengers, while the pilot and one other passenger sustained minor or no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the landing error and the subsequent impact with the ground furrow. Investigators examined the environmental conditions, specifically noting how the lighting conditions contributed to the visual illusion. The inspection of the aircraft confirmed damage to the nose gear, the propeller, and the left wing tip.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a visual misidentification of the landing surface due to the field's color appearing like a runway in the backlight.
- The aircraft's nose gear collapsed after striking an agricultural furrow while the pilot attempted to correct the landing path.
- The landing occurred on a stubble field rather than the designated runway 12.