Accident Overview
On 20 December 1998 at 1320 UTC, a privately operated Yak 52 aircraft (registration LA-ABQ) sustained damage during a runway overrun at Leicester Airport. The pilot, aged 59, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accrued 1,080 total flight hours, including 143 hours on the Yak 52 type. The aircraft was powered by a single Ivchenko Vedeneyev M-14P piston engine.
Sequence of Events
The pilot advised ATC of his intentions and taxied onto the active runway. He began backtracking toward the holding point of Runway 33 when he heard another aircraft call 'Finals'. Shortly after, he observed an aircraft sideslipping from height toward Runway 33, apparently intending to land. To expedite his backtrack, the pilot increased engine power. However, upon closing the throttle near the runway end, he found insufficient braking and remaining runway distance to stop. The aircraft overran the hard surface, entered soft ground, and the nosewheel sank. A strong tailwind assisted the aircraft in turning over onto its back.
Aircraft Examination
After recovery to a nearby hangar, examination revealed that the brake system air reservoirs were charged and functioned correctly. The cockpit air valve was found in the OFF position, but investigators considered that this may have been moved during the recovery process. It is known that on this aircraft type, brake 'fade' can occur when the wheel brakes become hot.
Damage and Injuries
The canopy, top of the fin, and propeller were damaged, and the engine was shock loaded. Both the pilot and the single passenger sustained minor injuries.
Investigation Context
The information was sourced from the Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot and examination of the aircraft by the AAIB.