What happened
On 24 April 2010, a Maule M5-235C Lunar Rocket, registration G-BVFT, was conducting a private flight toward a destination 37 nautical miles east of Glanusk Park. The pilot performed a north-westerly approach to the grass landing strip, which is oriented approximately 110/290°. During the approach, the pilot utilized a side-slip maneuver to manage the aircraft's descent, noting that the approach felt fast and the landing was long.
As the aircraft reached the end of the landing strip, the pilot attempted to initiate a go-around procedure by retracting the flaps and applying power. However, there was insufficient time to complete the necessary short-field takeoff sequence. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a fence and subsequently collided with a tree trunk, which brought the aircraft to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to the left wing, propeller, lower engine cowl, engine, rear fuselage, and tail wheel.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the pilot's recent flying history, noting that while the commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had 193 total flying hours, only one hour had been flown in the preceding 90 days. The investigation also reviewed the local meteorological conditions, specifically the surface wind reported at Gloucestershire Airport as 190° at 5 knots, which indicated a strong tailwind component at the landing site.
Findings
- The pilot's recent lack of flying experience contributed to the incident.
- There was a poor judgement of the wind conditions, specifically the presence of a strong local tailwind.
- The decision to attempt a go-around was made too late to avoid the obstacles at the end of the strip.