Accident
On 19 April 2019 at 1410 UTC, a Replica Fokker DR1 tri-plane, registration G-DREI, collided with a runway edge marker while taking off from Runway 02 at Old Buckenham Airfield, Norfolk. The collision caused the aircraft to rotate forward and invert. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Damage was sustained to the upper wing, cowling, rudder, engine, and propeller.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Replica Fokker DR1, built in 2017, serial number LAA 238-14848. It was powered by one Superior XP-IO-360-B1AC2 piston engine. The pilot, aged 56, held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had logged 390 total flight hours, including 41 hours on type. In the previous 90 days he had flown 3 hours, and 2 hours in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had flown the aircraft from Felthorpe Airfield to Old Buckenham that day, his first visit to the airfield. After landing, he spoke with the airfield radio operator to determine the taxi route and departure procedure for the return flight. He then taxied to the grass area at the start of Runway 02 and 07. The wind was from the north-east, and the pilot believed he could take off from either runway. He positioned the aircraft in the centre of what he thought was Runway 07, but after the accident he realised he was actually aligned with Runway 02. He reported that the tri-plane’s design limited forward visibility when on the ground, making it difficult to see directly forward.
The air/ground radio operator expected the aircraft to take off from Runway 07, as the surface wind was from 070° at 11 knots. The operator observed the aircraft was aligned with Runway 02 and advised the pilot to move to the right. The pilot interpreted this as an instruction to move to the right side of the runway, so he moved the aircraft to the right but maintained his alignment with Runway 02. As he began the takeoff roll, the right wheel collided with a runway edge marker, causing the aircraft to rotate forward and come to rest inverted.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the accident occurred because the aircraft started its takeoff roll on the right side of Runway 02 and collided with an edge marker. The limited forward visibility from the tri-plane prevented the pilot from seeing the edge markers. The air/ground operator’s advice to move right was misinterpreted by the pilot, resulting in his alignment with the edge of the runway.