Date:	Thursday 16 August 2012
Time:	09:55
Type:	de Havilland DH.82a Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Lesuire Assests Ltd c/o Mithril Racing Ltd
Registration:	G-APFU
MSN:	86081
Year of manufacture:	1943
Engine model:	De Havilland Gipsy Major 1C
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Location:	Goodwood Aerodrome, Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Goodwood Aerodrome, Chichester, West Sussex (EGHR)
Destination airport:	Goodwood Aerodrome, Chichester, West Sussex (EGHR)
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
de Havilland DH.82a Tiger Moth MSN 86081; Taken on charge by the RAF as EM879 at 401 "City of Westmount" Squadron, RAF Redhill, Surrey 22.6.43; moved with squadron to RAF Staplehurst, Kent 8.43; to RAF Biggin Hill, Kent 10.43; to RAF Tangmere, Sussex 4.44. To 39 MU RAF Colerne, Wiltshire 6.6.44. To 18 RFS RAF Fairoaks, Chobham, Surrey 8.4.49, coded “RCT-S”, later "RCT-G". To 19 RFS RAF Hooton Park, Wirral, Cheshire 22.7.50. To 17 RFS, RAF Hornchurch, Essex 20.3.51 coded "RCJ-R", later "28". To AOP School, RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire 29.7.52 coded “BD-T”. Unit renamed Light Aircraft School 3.4.53. To 9 MU RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 20.7.53 for long-term storage pending disposal.

Struck off charge when sold 10.5.54 to R A Peacock Ltd, Croydon [although delivered prior to 11.4.54]. UK civil registered G-APFU (C of R R6119/1) 28.8.57 to Avionics Ltd, Croydon. Registration cancelled 7.10.57 and re-registered (C of R R6119/2) on 14.10.57 to A J Whittemore (Aeradio) Ltd, Croydon, Surrey. C of A issued 10.4.58. Regsitration cancelled 1.7.58 and re-registerd (C of R R6119/3) 3.7.58 to Surrey Aviation Ltd, t/a Surrey Flying Club, Croydon Airport, Croydon, Surrey. Damaged on landing Biggin Hill 15.8.59; repaired and returned to service.

Registration G-APFU cancelled 25.12.69 and re-registered (C of R R6119/4) 28.12.59 to Surrey & Kent Flying Club Ltd, Biggin Hill, Kent. Regsitration cancelled 28.9.64 and re-registered (C of R R6119/5) 10.11.64 to Anthony James Cheshire, Croydon; operated by The Biplane Club, Biggin Hill, Kent (later Denham, Buckinghamshire). Substantially damaged when crashed following engine failure on take off at Denham, Buckinghamshire 26.12.68. Presumably deemed as "damaged beyond repair" as registration G-APFU cancelled 17.3.69 as 'destroyed'.

To Agricultural Aviation Ltd by 8.70 for rebuild at Horsham St Faith, Norwich, Norfolk. To Fred J Terry, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire 1974. To Martyn Coward, Westbury, Bristol, Gloucestershire c.1977. Roaded to Walkeridge Farm 8.10.78. Re-registered (C of R G-APFU/R6) 9.4.79 to Martyn Ruscombe Coward & Derek Martyn White, Bristol. Reflown 24.8.79 after rebuild at Walkeridge Farm; CofA renewed 31.8.79. CofA lapsed 30.8.82 and stored Lulsgate.

C of A renewed 19.11.85. Re-registered (C of R G-APFU/R7) on 7.3.86 to John William Davy & Alistair Robert Davy, Brampton, Cumbria (aircraft based at Carlisle). Delivered to Goodwood 1.4.88 and re-registered (C of R G-APFU/R8) 12.5.88 to Mithril Racing Ltd [Mike Boyd-Maunsell], Goodwood. Name changed 24.2.89 to Leisure Assets Ltd. Name changed 1.10.90 to Plumprop Ltd. Re-registered (C of R G-APFU/R9) on 23.8.2004 to Lesuire Assests Ltd c/o Mithril Racing Ltd, Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex.

Damaged by gust of wind on take-off at Goodwood Airfield, Chichester, West Sussex 16.8.2012; according to the AAIB report into the accident...

"The pilot had already conducted three flights before the incident occurred. Runway 24 was in use, with a strong wind blowing directly across the runway. Before the fourth flight, ATC warned the pilot that the wind was increasing, and that gusts of 30 knots had been observed. The pilot elected to continue the planned flight. The initial stages of takeoff were normal, but as the pilot lifted the tail during the takeoff run, the aircraft was pitched forward onto its nose by what the pilot described as a gust of wind. Both occupants, who were wearing full harnesses and protective helmets, were uninjured and able to push the aircraft back to its hangar. The pilot’s assessment of cause was that the wind was too strong for the Tiger Moth.

Nature of Damage: Damage to engine and propeller"

Repaired and returned to service. According to a statement by the then-owners: "03.11.2016: After over 30 years in our ownership and hundreds of corporate and private clients, our Tiger Moth G-APFU is off for a quieter life. Such a bitter-sweet moment to see our friend fly away from Goodwood for the very last time".

Re-registered (C of R G-APFU/R10) on 13.1.2017 to Colin Andrew Hamilton, Sidmouth, Devon (aircraft based at Henstridge). Re-registered (G-APFU/R11) on 6.6.2017 to Christopher Lindsay Griffiths, Stalbridge (based Henstridge). C of A replaced by Permit to Fly 7.9.2018. Permit to Fly lapsed 6.9.2019. Currently registered; on overhaul 2021.

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft EA100-EZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain)
2. The British Civil Aircraft Register G-APAA to G-APZZ (Bernard Martin, Air Britain, 1978 p.26)
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/401_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron#1942%E2%80%9344
4. AAIB Bulletin: 11/2012 G-APFU EW/G2012/08/12: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f8d340f0b61342000679/DH82A_Tiger_Moth_G-APFU_11-12.pdf
5. CAA History of G-APFU 1957-64: https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-APFU-1.pdf
6. CAA History of G-APFU 1964-79: https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-APFU-2.pdf
7. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
8. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/p860.html
9. https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=114815
10. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10150451549634328
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichester/Goodwood_Airport

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
17-Aug-2012 10:09	Geno	Added
18-Aug-2012 15:30	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
06-Jan-2017 15:11	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative]
06-Jan-2017 15:12	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Date]
10-Feb-2022 14:47	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source, Narrative, Category]