What happened
On 5 September 2015, a Cirrus SR22, registration N124CP, was performing a private flight when it approached Runway 04 at Great Massingham Airfield in Norfolk. The weather conditions at the time featured good visibility and a wind of 340° at 15 knots.
As the pilot transitioned into the flare phase of the landing, the aircraft was struck by what was described as unstable air and windshear. This atmospheric disturbance caused one wing to drop suddenly. The pilot attempted to correct the flight controls, but the intervention was not sufficient to prevent the aircraft from making contact with the ground prematurely. This resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear. Following the impact, the aircraft drifted left of the runway and came to rest in a ploughed field. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board, all of whom were wearing full safety harnesses.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of control during the landing sequence. The inquiry reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence with 1,339 total flying hours, only 27 of those hours had been completed on this specific aircraft type. The investigation also considered the pilot's familiarity with the airfield, noting that while the pilot had previously landed at Great Massingham on Runway 22, they had not previously used Runway 04.