What happened
On 31 December 1998, a Thorp T21 and G-BXPF was conducting a private pleasure flight from Carlisle to Kirkbride Airfield in Cumbria. Upon approaching the airfield, the pilot assessed the surface winds as being from the south at approximately 8 to 12 knots. Due to the lack of a north-south runway, the pilot opted to land on Runway 10.
While the initial touchdown was successful using a crab technique, the aircraft began drifting toward the left side of the runway during the landing roll. The pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to yaw and roll to the left. The Thorp T211 subsequently exited the hard surface of the runway and entered soft ground, where the momentum caused the aircraft to tip onto its back. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries, though they were unable to exit the cockpit until assistance arrived to upright the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight conditions and the aircraft's movement during the landing phase. While wind reports from Carlisle indicated a south wind of 170° at 16 knots, local reports suggested that winds closer to the coast near Kirkbride were even stronger. The investigation focused on the loss of control during the landing run and the subsequent excursion into the soft ground.