What happened
On 7 March 2012, a private flight departing from Granard Airfield in the Republic of Ireland was forced to divert due to changing weather conditions. The pilot, flying a X’air Falcon 700, originally intended to land at Newtownards Airfield but diverted toward Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, after encountering stormy weather. While the flight was initially planned as a technical stop for refueling, the deteriorating weather necessitated a weather diversion.
As the aircraft approached the north-south airstrip at Kilkeel, the pilot encountered significant challenges. The pilot attempted two separate approaches to the northerly runway, both of which were abandoned due to severe turbulence and gusty winds. A third approach was attempted on the southerly runway. During this final attempt, approximately 30 feet above the ground on short finals, the aircraft experienced a sudden increase in wind speed and turbulence. This caused the aircraft to roll heavily to the right. The pilot was unable to correct the bank with the ailerons, and the X’air Falcon 700 crashed into the foundations of a partially constructed building. The pilot sustained serious injuries but managed to exit the wreckage before help arrived.
The investigation
Investigators examined the meteorological data and the pilot's flight planning decisions. The investigation established that the pilot had received weather updates prior to departure that suggested favorable conditions. However, the actual weather at the time of the accident involved a strong westerly airflow behind a cold front, which brought very high winds and heavy hail to the region.
At the Kilkeel airstrip, the wind was blowing across the runway, creating conditions that exceeded the aircraft's demonstrated crosswind limits. The investigation also looked into the pilot's assessment of the wind speed, noting that the pilot had relied on a windsock reading that underestimated the actual strength of the approaching weather system.