What happened
On 8 June 2003, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-AMTV, was performing a private flight at Shuttleworth, Bedfordshire. The pilot was conducting his fifth local flight of the day when approaching Runway 21, which featured a dry grass surface.
As the aircraft made contact with the ground, immediately following the touchdown of the main wheels, the aircraft pitched forward. This movement caused the nose of the aircraft to strike the surface, resulting in damage to both the nose section and the propeller. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, and both occupants were able to exit the aircraft unassisted.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry examined the sequence of the landing roll and the environmental conditions present at the time of the incident.
Data from Luton Airport recorded meteorological conditions at 1350 hrs as having a surface wind of 250 degrees at 10 knots, visibility exceeding 10 km, scattered cloud at 2,000 feet, and a surface temperature of +15°C. The pilot noted that a gust of wind had caused the tail of the aircraft to lift, which contributed to the inability to prevent the nose from striking the ground.