What happened
On 9 September 2000, a Jodel DR1-050, registration G-ATGP, was performing circuits and landings at Shobdon Airfield in Herefordshire. The aircraft was being operated for private purposes with two occupants on board. During the third approach of the flight, the pilot completed a normal touchdown on Runway 27 and intended to perform a 'touch and go' maneuver.
After the aircraft continued straight along the runway, the pilot retracted the air brake and applied full power. While the pilot initially managed to counteract a leftward swing using right rudder, the aircraft then experienced a sudden and violent swing to the right. This movement caused the aircraft to depart the runway surface.
As the aircraft veered toward rows of parked aircraft, the pilot identified a gap between two lines of parked planes and attempted to steer the aircraft through it. To maintain rudder authority, the pilot kept a high power setting. The aircraft passed through the gap, struck a taxiway marker, crossed a road, and collided with a heavy wooden fence surrounding a car park. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in a nearby picnic area. While the aircraft was destroyed, there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, both of whom exited the cockpit safely.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events following the departure from the runway. The pilot noted that the aircraft left the runway at a speed close to its take-off velocity. The investigation considered the possibility that the sudden swing to the right might have been influenced by the application of differential braking, although the pilot believed the rudder input alone should have been sufficient to maintain control. The investigation also noted that the prevailing light and variable winds were unlikely to have been the primary cause of the directional instability.