What happened
On 16 July 2014, a Socata TB20 Trinidad, registration G-JDEE, was performing a private flight at North Moor Airstrip in Lincolnshire. During the landing on Runway 27, a 550 m grass strip, the pilot encountered conditions where the surface was damp due to overnight dew. The approach was noted as being slightly high over overhead electricity cables located 270 m from the runway threshold.
Following a long flare, the aircraft touched down approximately halfway down the runway. As the pilot applied braking and attempted to turn the aircraft toward the end of the strip, the aircraft began to skid. In an effort to correct the skid, the pilot straightened the aircraft, at which point the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft came to a halt on the runway just past the threshold markings for Runway 09. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the left wing, the pilot's footstep, and the left main landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination of the runway surface revealed marks indicating that the aircraft had skidded for approximately 10 to 20 m prior to the gear failure. The investigation considered the environmental conditions, specifically the moisture levels of the grass, and the pilot's flight path during the approach and landing phase.