Title: Pilot Unacquainted with East Kirkby Airfield Involved in Near-Runway Plane Accident
Recent findings from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) indicate a minor plane accident at East Kirkby Airfield in Lincolnshire resulted from the pilot’s difficulty identifying the runway. The accident took place on 1 March after the 62-year-old pilot, flying alone from Full Sutton, East Yorkshire, tried to land but found himself in a field instead of the runway. The plane’s right wing hit a hedge as the pilot tried to steer clear of it, causing the aircraft to spin into the hedge. Despite the plane sustaining irreversible damage, the pilot fortunately did not suffer any injuries.
The report underscores the pilot’s unfamiliarity with East Kirkby Airfield as the cause for his inability to distinguish the correct landing location among various similar green fields. East Kirkby Airfield, previously an RAF facility, comprises two unlicensed grass-strip runways making identification challenging for those unfamiliar with its configuration.
At an altitude of 500ft (152m), the pilot had initially lined up with what he assumed was the runway, but landed on uneven ground instead. Recognising his mistake too late, he tried to execute a turnaround but the limited space prevented a successful take-off, resulting in the accident. The AAIB report points out that the pilot’s concentration on approach speed distracted him from maintaining appropriate glidepath positioning. The pilot’s prompt decision-making, however, likely averted injury despite the considerable damage to the plane’s wing mounting structure.
This event underscores the hurdles encountered by pilots unacquainted with local airfields and emphasises the significance of comprehensive preliminary research and becoming acquainted with landing areas.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting via www.bbc.com.
