Wirral man fails to renew paperwork ahead of Mull plane crash

Aug 17 2011 by Matt Hurst, Bromborough and Bebington News

A PLANE that crash landed at an isolated airfield in Scotland was piloted by a Wirral man who failed to renew his flying permit.

The light Rans Courier aircraft was seriously damaged in the incident, at Glenforsa Airfield on the Isle of Mull, on May 4 this year.

It belongs to Geoffrey Lewis of Oaksway, Heswall, and John Mellor of Old Farm Close, Willaston, near Neston.

Mr Lewis was making his first visit to the airfield when he attempted to land on the grass runway.

As he approached the landing strip, he was informed by the airfield manager of a turbulent crosswind and downdrafts.

A newly released report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch said: “The pilot decided to make an approach to land and judge the conditions for himself.

“He brought the aircraft to within a few feet of the runway surface, flying into the crosswind.

“However, the aircraft suddenly dropped and the right wheel contacted the ground.

“As the aircraft came to a stop, it tipped forwards causing the propeller to strike the ground and part of one of the blades detached.”

Nobody was injured but after landing Mr Lewis inspected the plane and found what looked like a pre-existing crack in the plane’s axle.

The report added: “In a full and honest statement the pilot advised that he had inadvertently allowed his medical and the aircraft’s permit to fly to lapse.”