What happened
On 28 August 2017, a Cessna 182T, registration N60554, was conducting a private flight to a private grass airstrip located near Stockbridge, Hampshire. The pilot, arriving at the site, noted good visibility and a light southerly breeze. Because the pilot had no prior experience at this specific location, two practice approaches and go-arounds were performed on Runway 18 to assess the terrain, which featured rising ground to the east and surrounding trees.
During the final landing attempt, the aircraft experienced a hard touchdown. Immediately following the impact, the aircraft drifted off the prepared runway surface and into an area characterized by soft ground and longer grass. This deviation caused the left wingtip and the propeller to make contact with the ground. The momentum of the excursion caused the aircraft to spin around its nose before coming to a halt in an upright position. The pilot sustained no injuries and was able to exit the cockpit without assistance.
The investigation
Investigators examined the site and the aircraft to determine the sequence of the excursion. Post-accident photographs revealed that the prepared portion of the airstrip was only approximately eight metres wide. An engineering inspection of the Cessna 182T identified that the left main landing gear had collapsed. The investigation established that the left mainwheel had moved into the long grass on the left side of the strip, leading to the wing and propeller strikes. This sequence resulted in a rapid leftward spin and caused significant structural damage, including a distorted fuselage and the detachment of the nose and right main landing gear legs. The engine and airframe also sustained shock-loading damage. The aircraft was subsequently deemed damaged beyond economic repair.