Background
On 23 June 2001 at 1137 UTC, a De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ANLD, was performing a private landing at Old Warden Aerodrome. The aircraft was manufactured in 1943 and powered by one De Havilland Gipsy Major 1C piston engine. The 59-year-old pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence with 365 total flying hours, of which 208 were on type; 6 hours in the last 90 days and 5 in the last 28 days.
Flight Details
The landing was on Runway 21 with a dry grass surface. The surface wind was 140°/6 kt and the temperature was estimated at 24°C. The pilot reported that the aircraft was aligned on final approach 2 nm from the threshold at 800 ft above airfield level and 55 to 60 kt.
Accident Sequence
About 500 yards from the threshold, the aircraft was high, and the pilot used a sideslip to adjust the flight path. The aircraft regained the correct approach path at a speed of 55 kt, when a high sink rate developed. It struck the top of a tree that was 70 yards from the threshold and about 20 feet high. The pilot was unable to arrest the sink rate in time to prevent the aircraft from landing heavily on the runway. The landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft came quickly to a halt on the runway centreline.
Aftermath
The aircraft sustained general damage to the propeller, landing gear, wings, and fuselage. Both occupants were wearing Sutton harnesses and escaped without injury.