What happened
On 23 August 2000, a modified Piper PA-18-150, registration G-BJIV, was performing a private flight near Thorne, Yorkshire. The pilot was tasked with aerotowing a glider back to Plockton, Scotland, after the glider had landed in a stubble field at Winds Farm. Prior to the landing, the pilot conducted a low-speed left-hand orbit to inspect the field for potential hazards. Based on this reconnaissance, the pilot determined the site was suitable and believed there was sufficient distance to clear the nearby road and its associated telegraph wires.
During the approach, the pilot flew downwind at roughly 60 mph, performing pre-landing checks and deploying flaps. As the aircraft reached the flare stage, the pilot identified a single strand of feeder cable spanning the approach path that had not been detected during the initial orbit. The aircraft struck the cable, which the pilot believed impacted the landing gear. The tension caused the aircraft to pitch down and bank to the right. Following the impact, the right wing and propeller made contact with the ground, causing the engine to stall and the aircraft to somersault onto its back. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft struck telegraph wires located alongside a north-south road at the western edge of the field. The impact caused the breakage of three conductors and a wooden pole. The pilot noted that the wires were extremely difficult to detect from the height maintained during the reconnaissance orbit and suggested that a lower-altitude search might have revealed them. The investigation also reviewed the communication between the glider pilot and the tug pilot regarding field obstructions.