AAIB investigation to DH82A Tiger Moth, G-AXXV
Runway excursion on landing, Dunkeswell Airfield, Devon, 27 May 2017.
Summary:
A temporary grass runway had been designated to the left side of, and parallel with, tarmac Runway 22 at Dunkeswell Airfield. Whilst on approach, the pilot noticed that a freshly mown strip on the right hand side of the grass landing area, immediately adjacent to the tarmac runway, was a different colour from the rest. Believing that this mown strip was the only useable part of the runway, he aimed to land there.
During landing, the pilot reported that a 7 kt crosswind from the left caused the aircraft to drift further right towards the tarmac runway. Its right main landing gear then struck a runway side light and control box, and collapsed. The right wing and aileron tips scraped along the tarmac, and the aircraft came to rest half on the grass and half on the tarmac.
The pilot assessed that the accident was caused by a handling error, as he had been looking out to the left, and not the right, when the aircraft touched down.
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