What happened
On 25 May 2003, a Luscombe 8F Silvaire, registration G-AKUF, was conducting a private flight from Cardington, near Bedford, to a private landing strip at Guestling, near Hastings, in Sussex. The pilot had previously surveyed the site and noted the strip was approximately 370 yards long, aligned north to an south, and surrounded by various obstacles including a 3-foot hedge, 60-foot tree lines, and an 80-foot oak tree. Power lines were also present across the approach and the middle of the strip.
During the third approach, the pilot attempted to land between the oak tree and the eastern tree line. As the aircraft neared the ground, it encountered an unexpected sink, causing the aircraft to undershoot the intended landing area. The pilot attempted to increase power to compensate, but the engine responded slowly. Consequently, the main wheels struck the top of a hedge, followed by the tailplane. The aircraft's wheels then dug into soft ground, causing the plane to nose over onto its back. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, escaped through the cockpit door without any injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the approach and the aircraft's performance. The investigation established that the pilot had performed two previous passes at 200 feet to assess the position of the power lines. The pilot noted that the engine's slow response to throttle input might have been due to the engine cooling during the preceding circuit. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the environmental factors, including the impact of the wind and the visual perception of speed relative to the nearby tree lines.