What happened
On 9 November 2002, a Cessna 120, registration G-BRPE, was conducting a private flight from Sandtoft Aerodrome. The pilot intended to land at South Lodge Farm in Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire, a grass strip measuring roughly 600 metres in length and 25 metres in width.
Upon approaching the strip from the east, the pilot opted for a westerly direction to avoid the difficulty of maneuvering on wet grass. The terrain at the eastern end of the strip features a flat area followed by a 1 in 20 downslope. During the landing sequence, the aircraft experienced a heavy touchdown on this downslope, which caused the aircraft to bounce. While the pilot initially believed the aircraft remained under control, the nose pitched forward as the aircraft reached the middle of the strip. This resulted in the propeller striking the ground, causing the aircraft to overturn onto its back.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the strip characteristics, noting the presence of a downslope and an upslope toward the hangar. The weather conditions were reported as good, with a light wind from 190° at 4 knots, though the grass surface was known to be wet. The examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the right wing, the tail, and the engine cowlings, as well as shock loading to the engine and damage to the propeller.