What happened
On 17 July 2005, a modified Piper J3C-65 Cub, registration G-BPVH, was conducting a private sightseeing flight near Frieslands Farm Airstrip in Sussex. The weather was clear, with a light wind of 6 knots from 230 degrees and occasional gusts.
As the pilot prepared to land on Runway 06, a grass strip characterized by a 2.8-degree upslope, they attempted an approach to the runway. To compensate for the uphill gradient and a tailwind component, the pilot maintained a higher approach speed. During the final approach, the aircraft began to lose altitude. In an effort to arrest the sink rate, the pilot applied full throttle. However, the main landing gear became caught in a standing crop located just short of the runway threshold. This caused the aircraft to pitch forward and flip over, coming to a stop approximately 12 meters along the runway surface. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries and were able to exit the wreckage without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the runway conditions, noting the significant upslope of the grass strip. The investigation also considered the pilot's flight profile, specifically the decision to increase approach speed to manage the environmental factors of the airfield.