17th November, 2012, Focke Wulf (Piaggio) P149D at Stretton Airfield

The Piaggio P.149 was an 1950s Italian utility or liaison aircraft designed and built by Piaggio. The aircraft was also built under licence by Focke-Wulf in West Germany as the FWP.149D. The aircraft in question, D-EARY had just undergone an annual maintenance check at Caernarfon Airfield, followed by a local test flight. On the day of the incident the aircraft was being returned to it’s base in North Yorkshire.

The pilot had decided to this flight with a stop at Stretton Airfield. Stretton is a disused former Royal Naval Air Station just south of Warrington. The weather forecast showed fine conditions and a surface wind of 8 to 12 knot.

On arrival overhead Stretton, the weather conditions were found to be as forecast and the pilot carried out an approach from the East to Runway 27. Being un-maintained, the runway surface was variable, with only an 18 metre strip on the north side actually in a suitable condition. The approach was into a low sun, which made judgement of height difficult. Just before touchdown, the pilot applied rudder to remove drift and align the aircraft with the runway. However, it continued just above the runway and drifted to the right. The right wing struck a large bush, which yawed the aircraft to the right and into a hedge.

The pilot attributed the accident to his continuing with the approach when the low sun and a stroboscopic effect made judgement of height difficult.