What happened
On 23 April 2017, a Smith DSA-1 Miniplane, registration G-BTGJ, was performing a private flight at Henstridge Airfield in Somerset. During the landing phase on the asphalt Runway 25, the pilot lost visual contact with another aircraft that was landing just ahead. In an attempt to verify that the runway ahead was clear, the pilot moved the control column forward. Following this check, the pilot pulled the column back to resume the landing flare.
Because no additional power was applied during this sequence, the aircraft's airspeed dropped significantly. This resulted in a stall and a rapid descent toward the runway surface. Upon touchdown, both main landing gear legs collapsed. The impact destroyed the wooden propeller and caused damage to the lower wings and the underside of the fuselage. The aircraft slid along the runway until the right wing tip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to spin 180 degrees before coming to a rest on the grass adjacent to the runway. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained no injuries and exited the aircraft unassisted.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of control inputs and the aerodynamic state of the aircraft during the final moments of the flight. The assessment focused on the loss of airspeed resulting from the pilot's decision to check the runway ahead without maintaining sufficient power to compensate for the forward control input.