What happened
On May 15, 2018, at 16:00 UTC, an Aeronca 11AC, registration OY-RPE, was performing a local pleasure flight near the city of Esbjerg. The flight originated from and was intended to return to the pilot's private grass airstrip.
Prior to departure, conditions were calm with no wind, and the pilot initially utilized runway 29. Following approximately 15 minutes of flight in the local area, the pilot returned to the airstrip and noted that the wind had increased, blowing from the west. Consequently, the pilot decided to land on runway 11, estimating a headwind component of approximately 8 knots.
During the landing approach, the aircraft began to drift southward. The aircraft exited the side of the 400-meter by 20-meter runway and entered an adjacent field. In an attempt to steer the aircraft back toward the runway, the aircraft encountered a furrow in the soil, approximately 30 centimeters deep. This impact caused the collapse of the left landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The Danish Accident Investigation Board conducted an initial safety investigation based on notification from the pilot, interviews, and photographic documentation. The investigation focused on the flight sequence, the runway conditions, and the environmental factors present during the landing phase. Following the initial assessment, the commission decided not to pursue further investigation.