What happened
On 5 May 2001, a Mooney M20J, registration G-BPKL, was conducting a private flight from Stapleford to Manston Airport in Kent. The flight began without incident, and the pilot was cleared for a straight-in approach to Runway 10. Meteorological conditions at the time indicated a surface wind of approximately 18 knots from 030° and good visibility.
During the landing flare, the pilot experienced a sudden lift in the left wing. In an attempt to correct the aircraft's heading and maintain the runway centerline, the pilot applied increased power and right rudder. When these inputs failed to stabilize the aircraft, the throttle was closed. Upon touchdown, the aircraft remained off the centerline and began to drift toward the wind. The aircraft continued to travel sideways along the runway at a low speed until the right undercarriage leg collapsed. The incident resulted in no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to the right wing and undercarriage, and two runway edge lights were struck.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators reviewed the sequence of events leading from the departure at Stapleford through the approach at Manston. The examination focused on the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft during the flare and the subsequent loss of directional control on the runway surface.