History of Flight
The Luscombe 8F Silvaire, registration G-AKUF, departed Cardington near Bedford on a private flight. The pilot intended to land at a private airstrip in Guestling, near Hastings, Sussex. The strip measured approximately 1,110 feet in length and was aligned north-south. The pilot had walked the site several days prior to assess the field and its obstacles.
Obstacles surrounding the strip included a 3-foot hedge along the northern edge, 60-foot tree lines to the south and east, and an 80-foot oak tree on the north-west corner. Power lines 20 feet high lay north of the hedge across the approach, and additional 30-foot power lines crossed the strip roughly halfway along its length. All heights were estimated by the pilot.
On the day of the flight, the pilot made two passes at approximately 200 feet above ground level to evaluate the position of the power lines. On the third approach, he flew over the first set of power lines and aligned on a southerly course toward the gap between the eastern tree line and the oak tree to the west. Close to touchdown, the aircraft experienced an unexpected sink and began to undershoot. The pilot attempted to compensate by opening the throttle, but the engine responded slowly. The main wheels struck the top of the hedge, followed by the tailplane. The wheels then dug into soft ground short of the designated landing area, causing the aircraft to nose over onto its back.
Pilot and Injuries
The sole occupant, the pilot, was restrained by a 3-point harness and sustained no injuries. He kicked open the left cockpit door and escaped. The pilot held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence, was aged 44, and had accumulated 1,599 total flying hours, including 347 hours on the Luscombe 8F type. His recent flying experience included 19 hours in the last 90 days and 17 hours in the last 28 days.
Damage
The aircraft incurred a bent propeller and damaged landing gear. The fuselage was assessed as beyond economic repair.
Pilot's Observations
The pilot attributed the slow engine response to the engine cooling during the previous circuit. He noted that with wind from 220° at 5 knots, he was downwind of the large oak tree when the increased rate of descent was observed, suggesting the tree may have caused the sink. Additionally, he believed the nearby tree line to the east created a false impression of speed, leading to a low and slow situation as he relied on visual cues rather than the airspeed indicator.