What happened
On September 4, 2015, at approximately 14:30 local time, a Hawker Fury II, registration N37896, was performing a private VFR landing at Langenthal airfield (LSPL). The aircraft completed a smooth three-point landing on the grass runway; however, the aircraft began drifting toward the left side of the strip. In an attempt to correct the drift, the pilot applied right rudder, but the input was insufficient to maintain the centerline. Consequently, the left wheel made contact with the edge of the paved runway surface. This contact caused the wingtip to strike the ground, leading the aircraft to tilt forward and over the left wheel.
The investigation
SUST conducted a summary investigation into the incident. The examination focused on the sequence of the landing roll and the physical contact between the aircraft and the runway boundary. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's movement led to a lateral excursion from the grass surface onto the hardstanding edge.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was insufficient rudder correction to counteract the leftward drift during the landing roll.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the engine cowling, and the leading edge of the wing.
- The pilot sustained significant injuries, while one person on the ground was reported to have sustained minor or no injuries.
- The aircraft was operated under private flight rules (VFR) for non-commercial purposes.