What happened
On 20 June 2017, a Starduster Too SA300, registration G-BNNA, was performing a private flight to Keyston Airfield in Cambridgeshire. The approach and initial flight phases were unremarkable. The airfield features an unmarked grass runway, bounded by a barley field to the west and a hedge to the east.
During the landing sequence, the pilot utilized a three-point attitude. Because this specific landing attitude obscures forward visibility of the runway, the pilot relied on visual cues from the aircraft's flanks. While monitoring the eastern side of the runway—noting the hedge and parked aircraft—the pilot failed to sufficiently observe the western boundary. Consequently, the aircraft drifted halfway across the crop margin. Upon touchdown, the wheels entered the barley crop, leading to a sudden deceleration. This force caused the aircraft to nose over, rotate vertically over its tail, and eventually settle upright at the edge of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's movement and the pilot's environmental awareness. It was established that the pilot was operating a tailwheel aircraft for the first time at this specific airfield. The investigation also noted that the pilot was attempting to expedite the landing process to attend a scheduled meeting.
Findings
- The pilot focused visual monitoring on the eastern side of the runway, neglecting the western side.
- The aircraft drifted into the barley crop during the landing roll.
- The rapid deceleration caused by the crop contact triggered the nose-over.
- The pilot's experience at this specific airfield in a tailwheel configuration was limited.
- The pilot was under pressure to complete the flight quickly due to time constraints for a subsequent engagement.