What happened
On 25 August 1998, a Jodel D119, registration G-BAAW, was conducting a private flight at Monewdon, Suffolk. During the landing phase on Runway 22, the pilot performed a standard approach to the dry grass strip under wind conditions of 320°/07 kt. As the aircraft entered the flare, it began to drift toward the left side of the runway. Although the landing itself was completed normally, the aircraft continued to decelerate without the application of brakes. During this rollout, the aircraft suddenly veered left, leaving the runway surface and entering a field of standing crop. At a speed of approximately 10 kt, the aircraft struck a deep rut in the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to stop abruptly and resulted in a slight nose-over motion before it settled back into an upright position.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of events during the landing flare and the subsequent rollout on the grass surface. The investigation established that there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board. The impact with the rut resulted in substantial damage to the left landing gear.
Findings
- The aircraft drifted left during the flare phase of the landing.
- The pilot did not take immediate corrective action to counteract the leftward drift.
- The aircraft veered off the runway into a standing crop while slowing down.
- The pilot's failure to promptly correct the leftward drift led to the aircraft leaving the runway surface.