Aircraft excursion into ditch during landing attempt near Peterborough

Casualties unknown • Landing strip near Thorny Road, Peterborough, GB

A X’Air Falcon 912, registration G-CBVE, struck a ditch during a landing attempt at an unprepared field near Peterborough, resulting in minor injuries to the pilot.

What happened

On 26 June 2010, a X’Air Falcon 912, registration G-CBVE, was conducting a private flight to land at a landing strip near Thorny Road, Peterborough, to support a local fete. Prior to the arrival, the pilot had consulted with the event organiser and performed a partial inspection of the field on foot.

Upon arriving over the site at approximately 0420 hrs, the pilot performed two descending orbits. To avoid disturbing local residents, the pilot positioned the aircraft in a less than optimal location. During the first landing attempt, the pilot aborted the approach due to excessive speed, executing an immediate right turn to avoid overflying houses.

During the second approach, the aircraft successfully touched down; however, the braking was ineffective because of the bumpy and wet surface of the field. The pilot failed to identify a ditch crossing the landing area, located roughly three-quarters of the way along the approach. As the aircraft moved forward, the pilot attempted a directional correction using the rudder, but the aircraft slid sideways into the ditch. The pilot was able to shut down the engine and exit the aircraft without assistance.

The investigation

The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The examination focused on the circumstances surrounding the pilot's visual inspection of the field and the flight conditions during the approach. The investigation established that the pilot had not fully inspected the landing area for obstacles, having only walked a portion of the field previously. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the impact of the lighting conditions and the pilot's flight path on the visibility of the terrain features.

Findings

  • The pilot's initial inspection of the landing strip was incomplete, as he only walked part of the field.
  • The pilot's decision to orbit in a specific area to avoid disturbing inhabitants, combined with difficult lighting conditions, contributed to the oversight.
  • The unnoticed ditch running across the intended landing path was the primary cause of the excursion.
  • The wet and uneven nature of the grass prevented effective braking after touchdown.

Probable cause

The aircraft slid into a ditch because the pilot failed to identify a terrain feature crossing the landing strip, a failure exacerbated by incomplete ground reconnaissance, poor lighting, and the aircraft's position during the approach to avoid residential areas.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2010-06-26 X'Air Falcon 912(1) accident near Landing strip near Thorny Road, Peterborough, GB?

A X’Air Falcon 912, registration G-CBVE, struck a ditch during a landing attempt at an unprepared field near Peterborough, resulting in minor injuries to the pilot.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-06-26 involved a X'Air Falcon 912(1), registration G-CBVE, at Landing strip near Thorny Road, Peterborough, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft slid into a ditch because the pilot failed to identify a terrain feature crossing the landing strip, a failure exacerbated by incomplete ground reconnaissance, poor lighting, and the aircraft's position during the approach to avoid residential areas.

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