What happened
On 15 June 1999, a Rebel aircraft, registration G-BWFZ, was performing a private flight near St Michaels, Lancashire. While attempting to land on the 42 5-metre dry grass Runway 22, the pilot maintained a speed of 45 knots. The approach was intentionally flown slightly high to avoid overhead cables located along the approach path.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft experienced an unexpected period of floating before touching down, followed by a bounce and a second period of floating. Due to the presence of a dyke embankment at the end of the runway, the pilot determined that a go-around was no longer a viable option. In an effort to decelerate, the pilot applied heavy braking. This caused the tail of the aircraft to rise, resulting in the propeller making contact with the ground. The aircraft eventually came to a stop on its nose near the end of the landing strip. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing, the aircraft's flight path, and the physical damage sustained, which included damage to the engine mounting, cowling, fuselage, and propeller.