What happened
On 11 September 2002, a Cessna 182T Skylane, registration G-OLDX, was performing a private flight over Birmingham. The pilot attempted to land diagonally across a grass football training ground, flying in a roughly westerly direction. The landing area was situated approximately 600 feet above mean sea level and was bordered to the north and west by an earth bank measuring roughly 20 feet in height.
During the approach, the pilot intended to land with a headwind based on weather forecasts from Birmingham Airport. However, due to the lack of a windsock at the field, the pilot was unaware that a tailwind was actually present. The aircraft touched down approximately 5 knots faster than intended, slightly beyond the chosen aiming point. Although the pilot considered initiating a go-around, they determined there was enough runway remaining to continue the landing.
As the aircraft slowed, the pilot applied the brakes on the damp grass surface. This caused the aircraft to skid, leading to a collision with the western earth bank at a speed of approximately 10-15 kt. The impact resulted in minor injuries to the pilot and caused damage to the propeller, fuselage, and nose leg.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the conditions at the Birmingham City Football Club Training Ground and the pilot's decision-making process regarding the landing approach and the use of brakes on the damp surface.