Gust of wind causes plane to crash on airport runway
A SUDDEN gust of wind caused a vintage plane to crash after landing at Coventry Airport.
The unexpected crosswind on an otherwise calm day spun the 80-year-old biplane around on the runway, causing the left wheels to collapse which in turn damaged the left wingtip and spar.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch into the incident, which happened just after 11.45am on July last year, said both the 56-year-old pilot and his passenger walked away uninjured from the De Havilland Hornet Moth, registration G-AESE.
The report said: “After a local flight to Shotteswell Airport, where the pilot completed two landings, the aircraft returned to Coventry Airport. He performed a successful full stop landing on Runway 23 followed by a further circuit and successful touchdown.
“However, after all three wheels settled on the paved surface, the pilot reported encountering a gusting crosswind from the left.”
Actual wind conditions could not be established but the pilot reported that the Coventry Airport forecast was wind from 9mph, regarded as a ‘gentle breeze’ on the Beaufort Scale.
The report continued: “This crosswind caused the aircraft to veer to the left, which was corrected, but then the aircraft veered to the right.
“The pilot reported applying full opposite rudder and braking but the turn developed into a ground loop, after which the aircraft came to a halt with the left landing gear collapsed.
“Both occupants were wearing full harnesses and escaped uninjured.”
The pilot is not named in the report, but had 845 hours’ flying experience, 550 of which were on the type of plane which crashed.