Event Details
On 19 April 2018 at 1200 UTC, a Gulfstream AA-5B Tiger (registration G-BJAJ) suffered damage during landing at Thruxton Airfield, Hampshire. The aircraft was manufactured in 1979 and powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A4K piston engine. The flight was private, with one pilot and one passenger on board; neither were injured. The flight originated from Lower Upham Airfield, Wiltshire.
Flight History
The pilot, aged 63, held a Private Pilot’s Licence with 375 total flying hours, 231 of which were on type. He had flown 4 hours in the previous 90 days and 1 hour in the last 28 days. His intention was to gain experience flying from the right seat to later accompany a newly qualified member of the pilot-owners’ syndicate. Another experienced pilot occupied the left seat for this first right-seat flight. After departing Lower Upham, they flew towards Thruxton.
On final approach to Runway 25, both occupants believed the flightpath was correct. However, the pilot was distracted by manipulating the control column with his right hand instead of his left and struggled to monitor the airspeed indicator. As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, he realized the speed was low, lowered the nose, and increased power. The nosewheel and propeller then unexpectedly struck the runway. The aircraft bounced before the pilot regained control, completed the landing, and taxied to the apron.
Damage and Aftermath
The nose landing leg was bent, the propeller damaged, and the engine possibly shock-loaded. After the incident, the pilot acknowledged he should have sought assistance from a qualified instructor before flying from the right seat.