What happened
On the evening of 16 August 2016, a Steen Skybolt, registration G-CBYJ, was performing a private flight from its home base at a farm strip in Kingsley, Buckinghamshire. The flight involved two people on board, though there were no injuries reported.
The pilot made three distinct attempts to land at the strip. The initial approach was aborted via a go-around after the pilot identified the aircraft was too high. A second approach was also abandoned when it became clear the touchdown point would be outside the standard landing area.
During the third attempt, the aircraft crossed the airfield boundary at a speed slightly under 70 mph. The aircraft touched down well before the usual go-around point with the engine at idle. As the aircraft slowed to approximately 50 mph, the pilot initially applied light braking. However, noticing the speed was high relative to the remaining runway length, the pilot applied the brakes more forcefully. This sudden deceleration caused the tail to lift, resulting in the aircraft nosing over onto its back and sliding approximately 10 metres in an inverted position.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of the landing attempts and the mechanical state of the aircraft following the impact. The aircraft sustained extensive airframe damage, along with damage to the propeller and a shock-load to the engine.
Investigators noted that while the pilot was experienced with the specific farm strip, the Steen Skybolt was unique in his experience because it lacked flaps. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions regarding braking pressure and the timing of the deceleration.