What happened
On 6 April 2007, a Replica War P-47, registration G-BTBI, was returning to its home base at Yeatsall Farm following a flight from Tatenhill. The pilot established a downwind position for Runway 05, having lowered the landing gear and reduced the airspeed to roughly 75 mph. Due to the lack of wind, the pilot chose a straight final approach rather than his usual curved method, primarily to mitigate visibility issues caused by the aircraft's long nose and forward roll attitude.
During this straight approach, the pilot lost the ability to accurately judge the aircraft's height relative to the runway threshold. Upon realizing the descent was too low, the pilot applied full throttle to initiate a go-around. Although the engine responded, the aircraft struck the first of two closely spaced hedges located near a minor road. The impact caused both wings to separate and damaged the fuselage. The aircraft came to a stop at the base of the second hedge.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight path, the pilot's approach technique, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was operating under private flight conditions and that the pilot had 329 total flying hours, with only 8 hours experienced on this specific type.
Findings
- The pilot's loss of height perception during the straight final approach was the primary factor leading to the collision.
- The pilot's decision to use a straight approach was intended to improve forward visibility, but it resulted in an inadequate assessment of the aircraft's altitude.
- The pilot's use of a four-point harness was effective, as the pilot sustained only minor injuries.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the separation of both wings and fuselage damage.