What happened
On 27 October 2017, a Spitfire TR9, registration G-ILDA, was completing a private passenger flight at Goodwood Aerodrome. During the final approach to the grass runway, the pilot encountered unexpected turbulence, which was attributed to a fluctuation in wind speed and direction. As the aircraft reached approximately 100 feet above the ground, the pilot noted the wind appeared to die away before increasing again.
During the flare maneuver, the aircraft experienced a sudden roll. The right wing lifted, causing the aircraft to drop and the left wheel to strike the runway short of the displaced threshold. Because the grass surface was damp and soft, the left wheel dug into the ground, creating a pivot effect that increased the leftward bank angle. This motion caused the left wingtip and the pitot mast to make contact with the turf. The pilot managed to apply a corrective maneuver, stabilizing the aircraft to complete the landing without further incident. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the crew or passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the runway surface to determine the cause of the wing drop. An aft-facing video camera mounted in the cockpit captured the instability in roll during the approach and the rapid roll to the left just prior to ground contact.
Physical evidence on the runway included a mark from the left wheel and a one-meter indentation caused by the pitot mast. The investigation also looked into the surface conditions, noting that the grass was soft and damp. The pilot's experience with crosswind landings at the airfield was considered, alongside the potential for limited forward visibility during the landing attitude.