Pilot died in 100m roll after missing runway

A pilot died after his light aircraft rolled for about 100m (328ft) after missing a runway at an airfield in Cornwall, investigators have found.

The crash happened shortly after 14:00 at Truro Airfield on 3 September last year, killing the sole occupant of the Vans RV-6A.

The 60-year-old male pilot suffered a "fatal neck injury" after the plane missed the runway by 20m (65ft), the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found.

Investigators said the plane rolled after its nose wheel dug into the ground.

The AAIB said in a report: "A combination of the aircraft energy and dynamics of the roll over may have contributed to the pilot sustaining a fatal neck injury."

Both the aircraft manufacturer and Light Aircraft Association documentation for this aircraft type highlighted the need to keep the nose wheel off the ground on landing, investigators said.

The investigation did not determine why the aircraft landed deep and off the runway to the right.

Investigators said "there were a number of factors" that led to the aircraft's "energy being sufficient" for it to nose over and the canopy being significantly deformed.

Following the accident, the AAIB said the following safety measures had taken place:

• The airfield owner instructed the farmers to remove hay from the airfield as soon as it is baled and not to store it on the airfield
• Additional guidance was provided on which runway to use depending on wind conditions
• The training mound was removed from the airfield

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