What happened
On 6 March 2003, a Jodel DR1051, registration G-AYGD, was performing a private flight from Netherthorpe to Retford (Gamston) Airfield in Nottinghamshire. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 kilometres, no significant weather, and a light surface wind of 320°/7 kt.
As the aircraft approached Runway 21, which featured a dry asphalt surface and a landing distance available of 1,203 metres, the pilot executed what was described as a normal approach. The aircraft made contact with the runway centreline. However, once all three wheels had established firm contact with the ground, the aircraft experienced an abrupt leftward turn, moving away from the direction of the prevailing crosswind. Despite the pilot applying full right rudder, the aircraft departed the runway at a right angle to the centreline. The aircraft then traversed roughly 20 metres of short grass before encountering soft, ploughed earth, which caused the aircraft to pitch forward and come to rest in an inverted position. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to its propeller, canopy, and fin.
The investigation
The investigation, prompted by the accident report submitted by the pilot, focused on the sudden loss of directional control during the landing roll. Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft, specifically looking for any issues with the landing gear. The inspection confirmed that all wheels were free to rotate. Additionally, investigators found no rubber marks on the runway surface, which indicated that the brakes had not been applied with excessive force prior to the departure from the runway.