Incident Description
At approximately 1300 hours on 17 July 1999, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-AHUF, was observed by several witnesses landing on grass Runway 25 at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex. The approach was described as higher than usual, with the aircraft executing a sideslip to lose height. The final approach was fast and steep, culminating in a heavy touchdown on the mainwheels. The aircraft then bounced several times along the runway before coming to a stop. After the landing, the aircraft was taxied back to the apron and parked.
Pilot Statements
The front seat occupant was a private pilot who had arranged a trial flight through a local flying club. He held more than 1,000 hours of flying experience but had limited time on tailwheel-type aircraft. His understanding was that he would receive a lesson from a flying instructor employed by the club. The flight was uneventful until the approach, which he perceived as steep with a high rate of descent. The landing was hard, causing the aircraft to bounce back into the air. The nose then pitched forward, and several more bounces occurred before the aircraft stopped. After the flight, he asked the instructor about the landing and was told it was normal and within the aircraft's stress limits.
The rear seat pilot, who was the pilot in command for the landing, was handling the aircraft. He was not a qualified flying instructor, although the club employed him in that role. He could not provide details of the flight because he believed that the damage to the aircraft did not occur during that flight but during a subsequent one. No record of any flights by G-AHUF on the day of the reported accident was available from the airfield movement log, making it impossible to determine if the aircraft flew that day, how many times, or if any flights occurred after the described one.
Damage and Aftermath
The damage to the aircraft was not immediately apparent; the only external signs were slack rigging wires. Once noticed, the aircraft was not flown again and was later transported by road to a repair organization. A full assessment of the damage required removal of the fabric from the wings, revealing damage to the main spars and rigging. No injuries were reported among the two crew members.