Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a 1942 DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ANEN, powered by a single De Havilland Gipsy Major 1H piston engine. The private flight took place on 13 July 2005 at 1041 UTC from Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex. The commander, aged 72, held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence with 18,522 total flying hours, including 47 hours on type. His recent flying experience included 16 hours in the last 90 days and 11 hours in the last 28 days. The aircraft carried one pilot and one passenger; none were injured.
History of the Flight
During the take-off run on Runway 24, the pilot raised the tail as normal, but the aircraft then over-pitched, causing the propeller to strike the grass runway. The pilot assessed the runway surface as smooth and the wind as 5 kt along the runway. The pilot's recent experience was mostly on nose-wheel aircraft; he had flown approximately five hours on tail-wheel aircraft since the beginning of the year, and his last flight on the Tiger Moth was six weeks prior.
Damage
The engine was shock loaded. The propeller and engine cowlings were damaged, and the underside of the right wing was punctured.
Probable Cause
The pilot attributed the accident to his not centralising the elevator after the tail was raised.