A pilot has blamed becoming distracted as a contributing factor behind a crash landing at Beccles Airfield.

Four people were treated by the East of England Ambulance Service after a Piper light aircraft overshot the runway at the airfield, off Brock Road, near North Cove. 

In a report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch covering the crash landing on June 29, the pilot said he became distracted on approach before noticing his speed was too fast.

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“The pilot decided to continue the approach and the aircraft landed faster and deeper down the runway than intended,” the report said.

The pilot blamed being distracted for overshooting the runwayThe pilot blamed being distracted for overshooting the runway (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

“They could not stop the aircraft before reaching the runway end and the aircraft continued into a hedgerow before coming to a complete stop.”

There were no significant injuries sustained by the four occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The AAIB said they had “taken away a number of learning points from the event, including to avoid distraction during a critical phase of flight” and that aborting the landing would have been safer.