What happened
On 2 July 2021, a Corby CJ-1 Starlet, registration G-CBHP, was performing a private flight from a home airstrip located at Bluebutts Farm, Slaidburn, Lancashire. The pilot had been conducting an hour of flight time, which included practice stalls and several touch-and-go landings.
The airfield strip, estimated at 278 metres in length, is characterized by sloped terrain and is surrounded by higher ground. Due to this topography, the pilot utilized Runway 20 for the landing phase of the flight. During the final approach, the aircraft encountered sinking turbulent air very late in the landing sequence. In an attempt to maintain altitude and clear the perimeter, the pilot applied full power; however, the aircraft subsequently struck a boundary wall. The impact caused the airframe to be damaged beyond economic repair and resulted in one serious injury to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the circumstances of the flight, the airfield layout, and the weather conditions at the time of the occurrence. The investigation established that the wind was from 200° at 6 to 9 knots. The pilot's experience included 1,141 total flying hours, with 332 hours specifically on the Corby CJ-1 Starlet type.