What happened
On 19 June 2017, a Taylorcraft BC12D Twosome, registration G-BTFK, was performing a private flight at Willow Farm, a grass airstrip in Nottinghamshire. As the pilot approached the runway threshold, they intended to execute a short field landing due to the limited runway length and a lack of significant headwind to aid braking.
During this approach, the aircraft descended too low and made contact with nearby farm crops. This impact caused the aircraft to roll forward through 180 degrees, resulting in the plane landing inverted on the runway. The incident resulted in one serious injury to the pilot, while the passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the approach and the physical damage sustained by the aircraft. The impact with the crops was identified as the catalyst for the loss of control. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the engine cowling, propeller, landing gear, left wing, wing strut, tail fin, and rudder.