What happened
On 24 July 2012, a Percival Proctor 3, registration G-ALJF, was completing a private return flight to Le Touquet when it approached a grass airstrip located approximately 12 nm south-west of Ashford, Kent. The weather was clear and calm, with a temperature of 27°C. The pilot elected to land in the easterly direction on a runway measuring roughly 350 metres in length.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power to initiate a go-around. However, the aircraft failed to climb out of ground effect due to low airspeed and the selection of full flaps. As the aircraft continued at a low speed, it began to veer to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the situation by reducing power to perform a controlled ground loop, but the low speed prevented the retraction of the flaps. During this maneuver, the left wing struck a small oak tree, which swung the aircraft into a substantial hedgerow and ditch. The impact caused significant damage to the wings, engine bearer, propeller, landing gear, and the rear fuselage. The pilot sustained serious injuries and required extraction by the Fire and Rescue Service.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's configuration during the landing attempt, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident.