What happened
On 7 February 1999, a modified Piper L21B, registration G-BIRH, was involved in an accident at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield, Northamptonshire. The aircraft was being operated for private purposes, having just completed eleven successful glider towing sorties. Following the final landing in a northwesterly direction, the pilot retracted the flaps and initiated a left turn to head back toward the launch point.
During the taxi, the aircraft was subject to crosswind conditions. The pilot noted the tail of the aircraft lifting and responded by closing the throttle. As the pilot attempted to reach for the mixture control to shut down the engine, a second lift of the tail occurred. This caused the aircraft to pitch forward onto its nose, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who sustained minor injuries, was assisted from the wreckage by club members.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators reviewed the weather conditions, noting that the forecast had predicted winds of 310°/17 kt with gusts up to 29 kt. At the time of the incident, the wind was recorded at 330°/20 kt. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its wing struts and propeller.