What happened
On 12 August 2000, a Luscombe 8E, registration G-BUKT, was performing a private landing at the Birds Edge farm strip near Huddersfield. The airfield is characterized by an undulating grass surface with a notable uphill gradient at the start of the runway, and a wall positioned just before the runway threshold.
During the approach to Runway 2D, the pilot aimed to touch down as close to the intended point as possible while ensuring the aircraft cleared the nearby wall. Because the aircraft lacks flaps, the pilot was mindful of maintaining the appropriate threshold speed to prevent floating. While the approach initially appeared normal, the pilot initiated the flare, but the aircraft did not touch down immediately. As the airspeed decreased, the aircraft dropped onto the runway threshold with significant force.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination of the aircraft revealed significant structural damage to the left side of the airframe, including a shattered canopy, damage to the left door pillar, and damage to the lower fuselage skin.
Findings
- The aircraft landed heavily on the runway threshold.
- The primary cause of the heavy impact was an early landing flare, which resulted in an uncorrected loss of airspeed before the aircraft reached the ground.