What happened
On 24 July 2004, a Streak Shadow, registration G-BUVX, was performing a private cross-country flight. As the pilot prepared to land at his home airstrip at Brook Farm, Rawcliffe, he received a radio report indicating surface winds at nearby Blackpool were 250°/14 kt.
The pilot commenced an approach to Runway 27 at a speed of 55 kt with 15° of flap. While the initial stages of the approach appeared standard, the aircraft experienced a rapid descent just as the pilot was preparing to flare. This resulted in a hard impact with the ground. Following the touchdown, the ground run was notably shorter than expected, and the pilot noted unusual vibrations throughout the airframe. A subsequent inspection of the aircraft identified serious structural damage to the tail boom, specifically a crease in the boom tube located above the trailing edge of the wing.
The investigation
Following the accident, the AAIB conducted an investigation based on the pilot's report and follow-up enquiries. The pilot later assessed the wind conditions at the airstrip, determining that the wind was approximately 240°/5 kt, with gusts reaching 20 kt. The investigation noted that the windsock near the runway had faded significantly, which hindered the pilot's ability to accurately judge wind conditions from the air.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was wind shear encountered during the landing flare.
- The pilot's assessment of the wind was complicated by a faded windsock.
- The pilot acknowledged that a higher approach speed might have been appropriate given the gusty conditions.