What happened
On 15 July 2018, a Eurofox 912(IS), registration G-JVET, was conducting a private flight from Perranporth Airfield in Cornwall to Wolverhampton (Halfpenny Green) Airport. As the aircraft approached its destination, the pilot noted significantly increased thermic activity compared to earlier stages of the flight. Although the prevailing wind was south-westerly, the Aerodrome Flight Information Service indicated that Runway 34 was currently in use. The pilot elected to proceed with the landing on Runway 34.
During the final approach, the pilot observed the indicated airspeed dropping from 60 to 50 knots, even though the perceived groundspeed remained higher than 50 knots. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a rapid deviation to the left. Despite efforts by the pilot to maintain control, the aircraft departed the runway, performing a turn of approximately 180 degrees before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to the airframe and a cracked right wheel strut.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the aerodynamic conditions during the landing phase and the impact of wind direction on the aircraft's stability on the ground. The pilot later identified that the wind was actually coming from the south, which created a tailwind component during the landing sequence.