What happened
On 29 September 2011, a Taylorcraft BC12D Twosome, registration G-BSDA, was conducting a private flight from Rowhook, West Sussex, to Shoreham Airport. While the pilot had originally intended to approach Runway 20, air traffic instructions directed the aircraft to land on Runway 13, which had a reported wind of 9 mph from the south-east.
During the approach, the pilot experienced a period of mental confusion regarding the runway numbers, which resulted in the aircraft being positioned for an approach to Runway 31 instead. The aircraft touched down smoothly at an airspeed of 55 mph; however, the pilot quickly realized that the remaining runway distance was depleting rapidly. In an attempt to stop, the pilot applied heavy braking, which caused the aircraft to flip over and end up in an inverted position at the end of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the propeller tips, cowling, windscreen, left lift strut, and the tips of the fin and rudder. The pilot, who was wearing a full harness, was able to exit the aircraft without assistance following the accident.
Findings
- The pilot suffered one serious injury.
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's momentary confusion regarding runway identification, which led to landing on Runway 31, a runway presenting a higher tailwind component than intended.
- The pilot's decision-making was impacted by insufficient preparation for the change in landing instructions.