Accident Details
On 18 June 2015 at 0930 UTC, an Auster J5F Aiglet Trainer (registration G-AMZT) sustained damage to its fuselage during a landing accident at Bolt Head Airfield, Devon. The aircraft, powered by a single De Havilland Gipsy Major I piston engine, was manufactured in 1953 (serial no. 3107). The flight was private, with one pilot and one passenger on board. Neither occupant was injured.
Sequence of Events
The pilot conducted a straight-in approach to land on Runway 29. Bolt Head Airfield is a grass strip with no white runway designating markings. Adjacent to the runway, between the runway and the airfield boundary fence, there was a strip of land cultivated with barley, approximately the same length and width as the runway. The pilot mistook this cultivated strip for the runway and touched down in the crop. After landing, the aircraft came to a stop in about 25 metres before pitching over onto its back. The occupants exited the aircraft via the passenger’s side window.
Pilot's Comments
The pilot considered that it was possible, but unlikely, that the accident would have been avoided if he had joined overhead. However, he stated that white runway markings would have definitely aided in identifying the runway.
Similar Incident
The AAIB noted that this accident bears many similarities with another incident, nearly two weeks later, involving an Europa G-TAGR, which landed in the same barley crop after mistaking it for the reciprocal Runway 29.