What happened
On 24 June 2002, a Pitts S-2A, registration G-SPIN, was conducting a test flight to renew its Certificate of Airworthiness at Meppershall Airfield. Because the commander was unfamiliar with this specific aircraft type, the owner accompanied him in the front seat to act as an observer and provide guidance. During the approach to Runway 20, the owner took control of the aircraft to demonstrate the landing technique.
To manage a crosswind, the owner performed a right wing down sideslip. To maintain visibility and avoid a nearby maintenance hangar, the flight path was shifted toward the right edge of the grass runway. As the aircraft approached the airfield boundary, the commander noted the proximity of trees, prompting the owner to increase power. During the flare, the commander attempted to level the wings, but this maneuver caused him to lose sight of the runway. The aircraft subsequently touched down in a cornfield roughly 10 feet to the right of the runway. The sudden deceleration caused the aircraft to pitch over and come to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of the approach and the positioning of the aircraft relative to the runway. The investigation established that the owner believed the aircraft was still over the grass runway when the flare was initiated. The crew's actions following the impact were also reviewed, noting that the commander successfully shut off the fuel, magnetos, and electrical systems. While the owner exited the front cockpit without difficulty, the commander was initially trapped due to insufficient ground clearance for the canopy to slide. Bystanders at the airfield assisted by lifting the tail of the aircraft, which provided the necessary clearance for the commander to escape.
Findings
- The aircraft landed in a field of corn rather than on the runway due to a lateral offset from the centerline.
- The use of a sideslip technique to counter crosswinds, combined with the need to avoid a hangar, led to a flight path that drifted toward the edge of the airfield.
- The loss of visual reference to the runway during the leveling of the wings contributed to the off-runway touchdown.