What happened
On 6 June 2000, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-AMTV, was conducting a training flight at Old Sarum Aerodrome in Wiltshire. The flight was intended for circuit consolidation, utilizing the unlicensed grass runway 24 south. During the approach, the pilot aimed for a track of 255° to mitigate the effects of a crosswind, which was blowing from 270° to 290° at 10 to 15 knots.
As the aircraft entered the landing flare, the pilot's vision was obscured by direct sunlight. This caused the aircraft to bounce during the initial touchdown, followed by a second bounce. In response to the bounced landing, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. During this maneuver, the pilot's view was further restricted by the sun and the aircraft's nose-up attitude, leading to an initial failure to notice a leftward drift. During the climb, the pilot believed the left wheel had struck a grass bale located near the runway. The aircraft subsequently completed a gentle circuit and landed safely on Runway 24.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the contact with the grass bale. The investigators examined the runway conditions, noting that while the runway surface was short and dry, grass bales had been left at irregular intervals approximately 15 feet south of the active runway. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's visibility during the critical phases of the landing and go-around, specifically noting the impact of the sun's position.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the rear spar of the left wing.
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's inability to maintain visual tracking of the aircraft's position due to sun glare and the aircraft's attitude.
- The presence of grass bales near the runway edge provided a hazard that the aircraft encountered during the drift.