What happened
On 1 June 2002, a Piper PA-18, registration G-ARAO, was conducting a private flight from Denham airfield to the Oxenthope Strip, a farm landing site located on exposed moorland in West Yorkshire. Upon arrival, the pilot observed weather conditions were clear with good visibility, and initial surface indicators suggested a south easterly wind of approximately 10 knots.
As the pilot prepared to land on Runway 11, he utilized a 'wing down' technique during the final approach. However, during the landing flare, the wind direction shifted significantly to approximately 190° and the velocity increased to roughly 20 knots. This sudden change caused the left wing to drop. Although the pilot applied full power in an attempt to execute a go-around, the left wing made contact with the ground.
Following the wing strike, the aircraft overran a section of freshly dug ground to the left of the runway. The aircraft then encountered a steep down-slope, eventually coming to a stop at a 45-degree forward pitch with the propeller embedded in the soil. Due to a fuel leak, the pilot quickly shut down the engine and evacuated the aircraft. Shortly after the pilot exited, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to flip onto its back, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, rudder, propeller, and lower fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the wing strike, the impact with the terrain, and the subsequent rollover of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was experienced on this type of aircraft, with 327 of his 337 total flying hours completed on the Piper PA-18.