What happened
On 5 September 2009, a Pelican Club GS, registration G-BWWA, was conducting a private flight at Eldersfield Airstrip in Gloucestershire. After checking the windsock and determining that the crosswind conditions were suitable, the pilot performed a standard approach and landing.
As the aircraft decelerated on the runway, the tail began to swing toward the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to use right rudder to counteract this movement, the aircraft continued to veer. The left main landing gear subsequently struck a depression located at the edge of the runway, which caused the aircraft to spin toward the left and come to rest in a nearby ploughed field. The incident resulted in damage to the propeller, the left wingtip, and the left main landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing roll and the environmental conditions at the time of the event. The pilot's assessment of the wind conditions prior to landing was reviewed, alongside the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's control inputs during the deceleration phase.