What happened
On 11 May 2001, a Spit and LF XVIE, registration G-OXVI, was conducting a private flight at Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire. The flight, which lasted approximately one hour, had involved various maneuvers including aerobatics, general handling, and stall practice. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, characterized by good visibility and light winds.
As the aircraft approached the grass runway 06, the circuit was completed without any prior issues. However, during the landing flare, which began at an altitude of roughly 15 feet, the pilot increased the pitch attitude excessively. This maneuver caused the left wing to drop and make contact with the runway surface. The impact was followed by the nose and main landing gear striking the ground, which resulted in the main wheels being torn away from the fuselage. The aircraft subsequently slid along the ground before coming to a stop on its belly. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver and the physical damage sustained by the aircraft, which included a shattered propeller, a bent left wing tip, and the detachment of the landing gear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of airspeed resulting from an excessively high pitch attitude during the landing flare.
- This loss of speed led to a stall and a subsequent wing drop during the approach to the runway.