What happened
On 18 July 2004, a Boeing A75N1 Stearman, registration G-BNIW, was performing a private flight when it was involved in an accident at Stoke Golding Airfield, near Nuneaton. The aircraft landed on Runway 26 using a three-point attitude, touching down approximately 100 metres from the start of the 525-metre grass strip.
The runway surface was noted to be wet and damp. As the aircraft reached the apex of the strip's slope, the pilot applied wheel braking. This caused the wheels to lock and skid along the downward slope of the runway. As the aircraft's speed dropped to approximately 15 kt, about 90 metres from the end of the strip, the braking became effective, causing the aircraft to tip forward and come to rest in an inverted position. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger, both of whom were secured with four-point harnesses.
The investigation
The investigation examined the runway conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the landing roll. The strip at Stoke Golding is narrow and features a slope that rises to a midpoint before descending. Investigators noted that the weather was CAVOK with light, variable winds. The physical damage to the Boeing A75N1 Stearman included damage to the tail and rudder, as well as crushing to the upper wings, the spinner, and one propeller blade.