What happened
On 12 April 1998, a modified Piper PA-18-150, registration G-BJCI, was involved in a ground accident at Milfield, Northumberland. The aircraft was engaged in private glider towing operations. Following the completion of an aerotow, the pilot was performing a right-hand taxiing turn. During this maneuver, as the aircraft moved across the wind, it tipped forward onto its nose.
The incident resulted in damage to the propeller and the lower cowling of the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot, and no passengers were on board at the time of the occurrence.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators noted that the local weather conditions at the time included a north-northwest surface wind of 20 knots, with occasional gusts. The pilot's assessment indicated that the aircraft's nose-over was triggered by a strong gust of wind that lifted the tail of the aircraft during the turn.