Europa XS, G-IKRK and Europa, G-JHYS: Accidents occurred July 11, 2015 at Laddingford Aerodrome, Kent - UK

The 2002 built Europa – reg G IKRK - owned by Keith Kesterton of Brick End, Broxted 

A light aircraft owned by a Broxted man was seriously damaged but the pilot escaped injury after crashing at an airfield in Kent.

The 2002 built Europa – reg G IKRK - owned by Keith Kesterton of Brick End, Broxted, veered off the runway at Laddingford on the afternoon of July 11 last year and ended up in a drainage ditch.

The incident – the second of two almost identical crashes in an hour at the airfield involving the same type of aircraft – is spotlighted in a newly published air crash report. The other involved a light aircraft owned by a flying group based in Diss, Norfolk.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch report says that the 55-year-old pilot, who had 564 hours flying experience made his final approach "a bit fast" and had bounced on touch down.

It continues: "The pilot applied power to get airborne, but the aircraft touched down again to the left of the runway where he lost directional control due to the long grass. The aircraft came to rest in a drainage ditch. The pilot shut down the aircraft and exited via the left side."

Story and photo: http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk

Runway excursion on landing, Laddingford Aerodrome, 11 July 2015.

Summary:
The pilot carried out an overhead join to the airfield and ended up high on final approach to Runway 29. The wind was estimated at 5 to 10 kt from 270° to 330°. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold a “bit fast” (possibly 65 to 70 kt) and then bounced on touchdown. The owner’s manual for the aircraft states that final approach should be flown at 60 to 65 kt with a touchdown at 45 to 50 kt. The pilot applied power to get airborne, but the aircraft touched down again to the left of the runway where he lost directional control due to the long grass. The aircraft came to rest in a drainage ditch. The pilot shut down the aircraft and exited via the left side.

Another Europa aircraft, G-JHYS, went off the runway in a similar position some 35 minutes earlier. 

Accident report:  https://www.gov.uk

Runway excursion after landing, Laddingford Aerodrome, 11 July 2015.

Summary:
The into-wind approach to grass Runway 29 at Laddingford Aerodrome, Kent, involved flying over some trees in conditions that were described as “bumpy”. The pilot reported there was “quite a bit of turbulence on final approach” and the aircraft landed to the left of the centreline. It then continued drifting left and its left wingtip made contact with long grass at the edge of the runway, which yawed it further left until the aircraft was completely off the runway. It entering a drainage ditch and stopped abruptly, damaging its propeller, landing gear, and underside. The pilot, who was uninjured, made the aircraft safe and vacated it normally.

The pilot thought the initial drift was probably caused by the turbulent conditions, he was unable to explain why he could not regain runway heading before the aircraft left the runway. Another Europa aircraft, G-IKRK, went off the runway in a similar position some 35 minutes later.

Accident report: https://www.gov.uk