What happened
On 15 May 2005, a Tri Kis, registration G-TKIS, was involved in an accident at Hexden Private Airstrip near Rye, East Sussex. The flight was a private operation involving a single pilot. After completing successful landings at Andrewsfield and Old Hay, the pilot decided to visit Hexden, an airfield the pilot had previously visited but had considered unsuitable for the aircraft.
The pilot initially attempted to land on Runway 11. To avoid an isolated tree near the approach, a steep approach was flown. During the final stages, the pilot applied power to manage the descent rate, which caused the aircraft to bounce. Following a successful go-around, the pilot opted to land on Runway 29. During this second approach, the pilot focused on maintaining clearance from low-voltage electrical cables crossing the approach path. While managing the obstacle and correcting the aircraft's height and centerline, the pilot failed to monitor the airspeed. The aircraft touched down significantly beyond the runway threshold, leaving insufficient distance to stop. The aircraft subsequently ran off the end of the runway and struck a fence.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and both the main and rear wing spars. The pilot, who held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 598 total flying hours, provided the primary information via an accident report form. The investigation noted that the pilot was operating at an unfamiliar airfield and was in the process of rebuilding flying currency, having flown only two hours in the preceding 28 and 90 days.
Findings
- The aircraft landed with insufficient remaining runway distance to come to a stop.
- The pilot's concentration was diverted toward obstacle clearance (electrical cables) and lateral positioning, leading to a lack of airspeed monitoring.
- The approach was steep and fast.
- The pilot was operating at an unfamiliar location during a period of low flying currency.