What happened
On 2 October 2016, a North American P-51D Mustang, registration G-MSTG, was performing a private flight near Hardwick Airfield, Norfolk. While returning to Topcroft Farm Airstrip, the aircraft encountered a crosswind from the right. During the landing sequence, the aircraft bounced twice on the grass runway.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot initiated a go-around. However, as power was applied, the aircraft began to drift significantly to the left. The aircraft remained at a low altitude and eventually struck a mature oak tree at the edge of a field. The impact caused the left wing and tailplane to detach, and the engine was partially torn from the fuselage. The passenger sustained fatal injuries, while the pilot survived with serious injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and analyzed video footage of the landing. The investigation confirmed that the engine was functioning correctly and no mechanical failures contributed to the accident. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's flight path, the meteorological conditions, and the pilot's handling techniques.
Analysis of the engine's RPM via audio signatures from the video showed a significant increase in power during the go-around. The investigation also looked into the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft, such as torque, gyroscopic effects, and the corkscrew effect of the propeller slipstream, which all contribute to leftward yawing in this aircraft type when power is increased at low speeds. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the safety clothing worn by the occupants, noting that the passenger was not wearing a helmet or fire-retardant clothing.
Findings
- The aircraft was subject to a crosswind from the right, and the pilot did not sufficiently compensate for this during the approach.
- The decision to perform a go-around was logical following the bounces on the runway.
- Loss of directional control due to the combination of crosswind and the aerodynamic effects of applying increased power at low airspeed caused the aircraft to veer left.
- The aircraft struggled to accelerate and climb because the landing gear remained extended, increasing drag, and the pilot had reduced flaps to decrease drag, which simultaneously reduced lift.
- The aircraft's path was further complicated by the fact that the noise abatement procedures required the circuit to be flown on the upwind side, placing the aircraft in a position where it was easily blown off course.