Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Great Lakes 2T-1A, registration G-BUPV, manufactured in 1932. It was powered by a single Gladden Products Kinner R55 piston engine. The flight was a private operation with one pilot and one passenger on board.
Accident Description
On 29 May 1999 at 1600 hours UTC, the aircraft was approaching to land on Runway 15 at Peterborough (Sibson) Airport. The runway surface was grass, and wind conditions were light. During the flare, the pilot lost sight of the runway centreline. He did not notice the aircraft drifting to the left. As a result, the left wing struck a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) installation beside the runway.
Injuries and Damage
Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained injuries. The aircraft suffered punctured wing fabric, and the PAPI installation was damaged.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 43, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had logged 555 flying hours, of which 10 hours were on the Great Lakes type. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he had flown 6 hours, with 4 hours in the last 28 days.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not state a probable cause.