What happened
On 3 July 2010, a Taylorcraft F-22, registration G-BVOX, was performing a private flight at Orchard Farm Airstrip in Sittingbourne, Kent. The aircraft was attempting to land on a 600-metre grass runway oriented 120°/300°. Although the pilot initially intended to land into the wind on runway direction 30, the presence of trees at the threshold and the downslope nature of that runway led to a decision to reposition for a landing on runway direction 12.
During the approach to runway 12, the aircraft drifted to the left, necessitating a correction involving increased power and a rightward crab to maintain the path. As the aircraft entered the flare, it drifted to the right of the runway centerline. While the pilot managed to touch down on the runway, the aircraft was not aligned with the runway direction. This misalignment resulted in the aircraft departing the runway to the left and colliding with a hedge. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the environmental conditions and the pilot's decision-making process. It was noted that the airfield lacked a windsock. The wind was recorded at 280° at 10 knots. The investigators looked into the terrain, noting a small, steep valley perpendicular to the approach path, which is known to create unpredictable turbulence when winds blow from the north or west.
Furthermore, the investigation analyzed the impact of the pilot's decision to accept a tailwind. By choosing to land on runway 12 rather than 30, the pilot accepted a tailwind component, which resulted in a 40% increase in groundspeed at the moment of touchdown.