What happened
On 1 May 2010, an Aeroprakt A2/2 Foxbat, registration G-CWTD, was performing a private flight from Lechlade, Gloucestershire, to Popham Airfield, Hampshire. The weather conditions during the flight were favorable, characterized by high cloud, good visibility, and a 12 mph south-westerly wind.
During the landing sequence on Runway 21, the pilot was following a gyrocopter that had landed shortly before. As the aircraft approached the runway, the pilot noted that the right wing was slightly low. While attempting to correct this wing drop, the pilot's attention shifted from monitoring the aircraft's airspeed to observing the position of the gyrocopter ahead. During the landing roll, the left wing dropped and struck the ground at approximately the same moment the left main gear made contact. This caused the aircraft to pivot on its left wingtip and come to a stop roughly 50 yards from the initial touchdown point. The impact resulted in the collapse of both the nose gear and the left main gear, causing damage to the propeller, the left wing, and the underside of the engine. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation was supported by photographs taken by an amateur photographer who was present at the airfield during the accident. The investigation reviewed the pilot's statements regarding the flight sequence and the aircraft's behavior during the approach.