What happened
On 11 June 2017, a Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe, registration G-BRGF, was performing a private flight at Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk. While on final approach to the runway, the aircraft descended into a field of rapeseed located near the runway threshold. The impact of the landing gear with the crop caused the aircraft to nose over, eventually coming to rest on its back. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a bent propeller, a cracked windscreen, damage to the canopy, a dent in the aft firewall, and a bent tailfin. The pilot was not injured during the event.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry established that the pilot was attempting to land the aircraft as short as possible due to the limited length of the runway. During this maneuver, the pilot misjudged the height of the approach, leading to the landing gear making contact with the vegetation before the aircraft reached the runway surface.