What happened
On 7 May 2005, a private flight involving an American General AG-5B, registration G-BYDX, was conducting a local trip between Farley Farm and Lee-on-Solent Aerodrome. After picking up a passenger, the pilot returned to the Farley Farm airstrip.
Prior to arrival, the pilot had monitored the ATIS at Southampton, which indicated north-westerly winds of 10 to 12 knots with significant fluctuations. Upon approaching the airfield, the pilot observed the windsock, which suggested a wind direction perpendicular to the runway. Despite the wind direction, the pilot elected to land on Runway 06. The aircraft touched down near the middle of the grass runway. However, the pilot was unable to decelerate the aircraft sufficiently, causing it to overshoot the runway and collide with a gate located within a hedge at the southern boundary.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained extensive damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the physical characteristics of the Farley Farm airstrip, noting that the runway is approximately 700 metres long and features a downslope from the midpoint towards the southern end. The site is bounded by trees to the south and a hedge to the north.
Investigators reviewed the wind conditions and the pilot's assessment of the surface wind. The investigation established that while the wind was initially assessed as being at right angles to the runway, the pilot's landing approach may have been impacted by changing wind conditions. The pilot noted that the wind may have backed and increased in strength during the final approach, potentially creating a tailwind component that was not adequately accounted for during the landing roll.