What happened
On 24 March 2014, a Murphy Maverick 430, registration G-ONFL, was being flown on a private delivery flight from Fenland Airfield to North Coates Airfield in Lincolnshire. The flight was conducted in company with another aircraft. During the transit, the pilot discovered that the aircraft's radio was inoperative.
Upon arrival at North Coates, the surface wind was estimated at 160º with a 10-knot velocity, gusting to 18 knots. This created a significant crosswind component for the landing. The pilot performed a landing across the grass manoeuvring area and the runway. While the initial touchdown was normal, the aircraft struggled to turn right, away from the wind, as it decelerated. In an attempt to regain directional control and energise the rudder, the pilot applied power; however, this action only served to extend the ground roll. Lacking sufficient space to initiate a new takeoff, the aircraft overran the left edge of the runway and entered a nearby dyke. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, cowling, firewall, and left landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the aircraft's movement during the landing roll. It was noted that the pilot was unaware that the runway had been recently re-aligned to run parallel to the dyke. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's attempt to use engine power to assist with rudder authority during the high-speed portion of the landing.