What happened
On 21 June 2008, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ANFV, was conducting a private flight near Elgin, Moray. While approaching the Shempston farm strip, the pilot noted that the windsock at the western end of the nearby RAF Lossiemouth indicated a wind direction and speed of 130/16 kt. Based on this observation, the pilot intended to land on Runway 07, which is the shorter of the two available runways at the farm strip.
During the final stages of the landing, the pilot maintained an indicated airspeed of 60 kt. As the aircraft was between 6 ft and 8 ft above the ground, the pilot flared the aircraft and closed the throttle. However, just before touchdown, the aircraft was struck by a sudden downdraft. This caused the aircraft to contact the runway with a heavy, slightly left-wing-low attitude. The aircraft proceeded through the landing roll and came to a stop without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the impact and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The crew, consisting of the pilot and one passenger, exited the aircraft without difficulty. No injuries were sustained by either occupant.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the left side of the lower fuselage, specifically near the landing gear attachment point.
- The impact caused rippling of the fabric covering in the affected area.
- The primary cause of the heavy landing was the encounter with a sudden downdraft during the flare phase.