What happened
On 20 March 2025, a Druine D.62B Condor, registration G-AXGV, was conducting a private training flight at Croft Airfield in North Yorkshire. The flight was intended as a biennial revalidation for the pilot, who was unfamiliar with both the aircraft type and the specific farm strip being used. An experienced instructor was also on board.
During the flight, the crew performed general handling maneuvers before returning to the strip for a touch-and-go landing on Runway 27. The weather conditions included a forecast crosswind of 5 to 10 knots from the left. Approaching from a right-hand circuit, the pilot opted for a curved tailwheel approach, a technique the pilot was accustomed to from flying biplanes.
As the aircraft descended below the height of the trees located on the left side of the approach path, it began drifting toward the obstacle. In an attempt to steer the aircraft away from the trees, the pilot initiated a turn that resulted in a wing stall. This caused the aircraft to roll and pitch nose-down, leading to the stalled wing and then the nose striking the ground. The aircraft came to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight path, the pilot's maneuvers, and the resulting impact. The crew managed to exit the wreckage by releasing their harnesses; the pilot exited through the rear left window and lifted the wing to allow the instructor to escape. Both occupants initially believed their injuries were minor, but subsequent medical evaluations revealed that both the pilot and the passenger had sustained neck vertebra fractures.
Findings
- The aircraft, a Druine D.62B Condor, was destroyed in the accident.
- The flight involved two serious injuries.
- The primary cause of the accident was a wing stall induced by a corrective maneuver intended to avoid trees during a curved approach.