What happened
On 5 January 1999, a Cessna 150M, registration G-BDEX, was conducting a private flight when it experienced an incident during landing at Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire. At the time of the occurrence, the surface wind was recorded at 220°/20 kt.
While the grass Runway 26 was in a serviceable condition, it was noted to be damp. Seeking a better surface, the pilot opted to land alongside the southern side of the runway. Due to the presence of crosswinds and turbulence, the pilot intentionally maintained a higher-than-normal approach speed and held the control wheel slightly forward of the neutral position following touchdown.
During the initial rollout, the aircraft rolled for a brief period before lifting off the ground once more. During the subsequent landing, the aircraft touched down on all three wheels on a patch of soft ground. This caused the nosewheel to dig into the surface, resulting in substantial damage to the nose landing gear and the surrounding structure.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions, specifically the wind and runway surface, as well as the pilot's flight techniques during the landing sequence. The investigation established that the aircraft's tendency to become airborne again after the initial touchdown was a key factor in the subsequent impact with the soft ground.