AAIB investigation to Pioneer 300 Pioneer, G-RABS

Hard landing, Strathaven Airfield, South Lanarkshire, 11 November 2018.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 14 February 2019

• Category: General aviation - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Correspondence investigation
• Date of occurrence: 11 November 2018
• Aircraft type: Pioneer 300 Pioneer
• Location: Strathaven Airfield, South Lanarkshire
• Registration: G-RABS

Summary:

The pilot had taken off from Strathaven Airfield for a local flight. Shortly after getting airborne the weather started to deteriorate, and the pilot decided to return to the airfield to land on grass Runway 09. The outside air temperature was about 8°C and light rain.

During the final stages of the approach the pilot selected the cabin heat ON. Shortly after, the inside of the windshield rapidly misted up, obscuring the pilots forward view. The pilot subsequently misjudged the flare and the aircraft landed heavily, causing the nose gear to collapse and the propeller to strike the runway. The aircraft came to a stop shortly after on the runway. The pilot was uninjured.

The pilot considered that the late application of cabin heat had most likely caused warm moist air within the cockpit to condense on the windscreen.

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Pioneer 300 Pioneer, G-RABS 02-19

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Glossary of abbreviations

Published 14 February 2019