What happened
On 2 September 2003, a Jodel D150 Mascaret, registration G-BHEZ, was conducting a private flight from Sherburn in Elmet Airfield, Yorkshire, to Cromer Airfield, Norfolk. The weather at the destination was favorable, characterized by good conditions and a light northerly surface wind.
As the aircraft performed a visual approach to Runway 3 and approached the landing threshold, the left main landing gear made contact with a raised bank located just short of the runway. This impact caused the aircraft to slew sideways and land heavily on the left main wheel, resulting in the collapse of the oleo strut. The sudden deceleration caused the aircraft to pitch forward, leading the propeller and the forward section of the fuselage to strike the runway surface. The aircraft eventually settled in an upright position. Both occupants, wearing four-point harnesses, exited the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the terrain and the pilot's approach profile. It was noted that the approach to Runway 36 at Cromer involves crossing open arable land that slopes upward toward the airfield. The runway itself features a 1.8% upslope and a slightly displaced landing threshold.
The pilot, who had only visited the airfield once previously, intended to land as close to the threshold as possible to avoid the steeper gradient found further down the runway. The pilot noted that the combination of the rising ground before the threshold and the runway's own upslope made it difficult to accurately judge the approach profile.