What happened
On 1 August 1998, a Jodel DR1050, registration G-AZAD, was performing a private flight at Inverness Airport, Scotland. During the landing phase on Runway 06, the aircraft was operating in nil wind conditions. While the approach and initial touchdown were described as normal, the aircraft suddenly veered toward the left side of the runway. This maneuver took the aircraft off the prepared surface and onto soft ground, which caused the aircraft to tip forward onto its nose. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to its wheel fairings and propeller.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators looked into the possibility of mechanical failure, specifically focusing on the braking system. The pilot suggested that the left brake might have been binding, noting that adjustments to the brakes had been performed on 3ered 31 July 1998, just one day prior to the accident. However, a technical examination conducted by the maintenance organization was unable to find any evidence of a binding brake or any other mechanical fault contributing to the deviation from the runway.