History of the Flight
On 7 April 2010 at 1415 hrs, the pilot of a Piper PA-18-150 (Modified) Super Cub, registration G-BEOI, was conducting a private flight at Parham Airfield, West Sussex. The aircraft was used to tow a glider, and this was the pilot's fifth aero-tow of the day. After the glider released at 1,500 ft, the tug descended towards Runway 04. The weather was good, with a wind from 310° at 5-10 kt, visibility exceeding 20 km, and scattered cloud at about 3,000 ft.
The pilot made a side-slipping approach to Runway 04, touching down normally at the intended point. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft veered to the left. Despite applying right brake and rudder, the pilot could not prevent the aircraft from departing the left side of the runway into an adjacent field. Once in the field, the right brake seemed to take effect and the aircraft turned sharply to the right.
Post-Landing Decision
Believing the brakes were working correctly and having crossed the ground between the landing strip and the field uneventfully, the pilot decided to taxi back onto the runway. As the aircraft crossed the edge of the runway, the main wheels entered a deep rut, causing the aircraft to pitch forward onto its nose. The engine stopped immediately, and the pilot isolated the fuel and electrical systems before vacating the aircraft.
Damage and Injuries
The propeller tips were bent, the engine was shock-loaded, and there was minor structural damage to the nose of the aircraft. The pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot, aged 73, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had a total flying experience of 5,323 hours, including 45 hours on type. In the last 90 days, he had flown 7 hours, and in the last 28 days, 3 hours. He had not flown the aircraft for about three weeks since a dual check lasting one hour, and it had been some six months since he had flown the aircraft prior to that.
The aircraft, manufactured in 1976, was a Piper PA-18-150 (Modified) Super Cub powered by one Lycoming O-360-A4A piston engine. The foot brakes consisted of two upright metal levers in front of the rudder pedals, angled forward at about 45°, operated using the heel of the foot.
The pilot was wearing a new pair of recently purchased ex-service flying boots, which had thicker soles and heels compared to his normal footwear. He noted that these boots made it difficult to locate and operate the brake levers. A post-incident functional check of the brakes found them to be operating correctly. The pilot later considered that his flying boots may have prevented him from achieving effective braking and maintaining directional control on the runway.
Runway Characteristics
Runway 04 at Parham Airfield was a mown grass strip approximately 660 metres in length and some 25 metres wide.