What happened
On 1 June 2009, a modified Piper L18C Super Cub, registration G-BPJH, was conducting a private flight to Blackhill Airfield in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. During the final stages of the approach to the airstrip, the pilot identified that the aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude. In an attempt to correct the descent, the pilot increased engine power.
However, during this maneuver, the aircraft made contact with a hedge located near the threshold of the runway. The impact was severe enough to cause the landing gear to be torn from the airframe. The aircraft sustained damage that was ultimately deemed beyond economic repair.
The investigation
Following the incident, the AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the approach and the mechanical impact. The investigation reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the aircraft's configuration. The pilot, who held a private pilot's licence and had 395 total flying hours, had submitted an accident report detailing the sequence of events. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was powered by a single Continental C90-14F piston engine.