What happened
On 5 October 2003, a Cessna 180K Skywagon, registration G-BETG, was performing a landing at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. The aircraft had been operating a flight from Somerset and was approaching Runway 29. During the final approach, the pilot noted a steady crosswind originating from the north-west.
Upon touching down on the runway centerline, the aircraft experienced a sudden and sharp swing toward the right side of the runway. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the movement using left rudder, the deviation continued until the aircraft came to a complete stop at a right angle to the runway heading. The incident resulted in damage to the left main landing gear, the underside of the fuselage, the firewall, and both door posts. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of directional control during the landing roll. Investigators reviewed the pilot's experience, noting the commander held a Private Pilot's Licence with 317 total flying hours, though only 10 of those hours were recorded on this specific aircraft type. The investigation also considered the environmental conditions, specifically the north-west crosswind present during the approach.