What happened
On 3 October 1999, a Slingsby T61F Venture T MK2, registration G-BUEK, was conducting a private flight at Tibenham Airfield, Norfolk. The pilot was returning from a local flight and intended to perform a visual circuit for landing on Runway 26. The weather conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and broken cloud at 2,000 feet. Surface winds were recorded at 270°/15 kt, with gusts of approximately 20 kt.
In an effort to practice approach and landing techniques used in glider aircraft, the pilot reduced the engine to flight idle. After ensuring the aircraft was stable and the spoilers were stowed, the aircraft experienced a sudden and rapid loss of altitude during the late stages of the approach. This caused the aircraft to touch down short of the runway threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to pitch forward, resulting in a broken propeller, engine shock loading, and minor structural damage. The crew, consisting of one pilot and one passenger, sustained one serious injury and one minor injury respectively.