Overview
On 10 August 2008 at 1243 UTC, a Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee, registration G-BFSC, sustained damage during a taxiing accident at Ridgewell Airfield in Ashen, Sudbury, Suffolk. The aircraft was engaged in a private flight with only the pilot on board. The pilot was not injured and vacated the aircraft unaided after making the switches safe.
History of the Flight
The pilot had just completed a glider tow and returned to the departure airfield, landing on grass Runway 23. He brought the aircraft to a halt into wind on the runway while retracting the flaps. He then commenced a left turn, using rudder and differential braking, to backtrack up the runway. As the aircraft turned through about 70 degrees, the left wing dropped and the aircraft slowly pitched forward. The nose continued to pitch forward and to the left until the propeller and the left wing tip struck the ground.
Wind Conditions
The wind at the time of the accident was reported as 230 degrees at 22 knots. The pilot assessed that the cause of the accident was the wind lifting the tail and the right wing as he turned crosswind.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the engine cowling, propeller, and left wing tip.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 64, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 570 hours of flying experience, of which 125 hours were on the Piper Pawnee type. In the last 90 days, he had flown 26 hours, including 10 hours in the last 28 days.