Introduction
On 22 August 1999, at 1104 hours UTC, a De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk 22, registration G-BWJZ, was involved in an accident during landing at Bagby Airfield near Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The aircraft was operated on a private training flight with two pilots on board. Both crew members sustained minor injuries.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft, manufactured in 1952, was powered by a single De Havilland Gipsy Major 10 MK2 piston engine. The handling pilot, seated in the front seat, was the aircraft owner and held a Private Pilot's Licence with 485 hours total flying experience, including 200 hours on type. The rear seat occupant was an experienced aerobatics pilot.
Flight History
The flight was planned as a local aerobatic sortie. Weather conditions were clear with a north-easterly wind of 5 to 10 knots. The aircraft taxied for Runway 24, a grass strip with a downhill slope. During the take-off roll, with the first stage of flap selected, the left side of the engine cowling was observed to be open and flapping upward. Due to the short runway remaining, the pilot continued the take-off and reduced power after becoming airborne. The combination of power reduction and a left turn prevented the cowling from opening further.
Accident Sequence
A low-level left-hand circuit was flown at 50 knots, with the flap setting remaining at the first stage. On final approach, the pilot rounded out at approximately 5 to 10 feet above the runway. The aircraft then stalled, causing the left wing to drop. The left wing tip struck the ground heavily, bending upward approximately 30 degrees at a point one-third of the distance from the tip. The left main landing gear also struck the runway, twisting to the left by about 70 degrees but remaining attached. The aircraft nosed over, coming to an abrupt stop, and the propeller struck the ground.
Aftermath
The front seat pilot, who was wearing a full harness, struck his head on redundant radio switches mounted on the top of the instrument panel. He was able to carry out emergency drills, isolating the fuel and electrical systems. Both pilots exited the aircraft by sliding back the canopy. There was no post-crash fire, and emergency services arrived within 5 to 10 minutes.
The pilot considered that the low approach speed combined with the tail wind caused the aircraft to stall during the round out.