What happened
On 19 February 2017, a Replica Campbell Cricket, registration G-BTMP, was involved in an accident at Garford Farm Airstrip in Oxfordshire. The pilot, who had not flown for several months, intended to perform a short flight to re-familiarise himself with the aircraft and check various instruments before landing.
Initially, the pilot operated along Runway 18. However, finding the runway length insufficient for the intended instrument checks, the pilot taxied to the longer Runway 27 to repeat the procedure. After taking off, the pilot executed a left turn and climbed, subsequently flying a right-hand circuit. As the aircraft transitioned onto the final approach for Runway 27, it experienced a loss of both airspeed and altitude, resulting in a heavy impact with the ground. The aircraft overturned onto its side and rotated 180 degrees before coming to a halt. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the aircraft independently.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of the flight and the pilot's recent flying history. It was established that the pilot held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had 207 total flying hours, with 188 hours logged on this specific type. The investigation noted that the pilot had no flying experience within the previous 90 days. The damage to the aircraft was significant, including a broken right axle, bent rotors, a broken nosewheel bracket, a cracked nacelle, and a broken top engine mount.