Reims-Cessna F.152 G-BHCP damaged at Leconfield airfield, further damaged at Sherburn in Elmet airfield.
On 26th March 1989 this aircraft took off from Sherburn in Elmet airfield with the pilot intending on flying on a general pleasure flight that was to take them over to the Yorkshire Coast together with his daughter flying as a passenger. The aircraft flew over to Scarborough and then went south, passing Flamborough Head with the pilot then intended on overflying Beverley to reach the Humber prior to returning to Sherburn in Elmet. In the general area of Beverley the pilot found that the visibility reduced to an extent that he could not see the Humber estuary. He opted to locate an airfield and make a precautionary landing so turned around and headed back to an airfield that he had overflown a short time earlier. This airfield turned out to be the disused Leconfield airfield. Visibility was good enough for the pilot to realise that the old runways were obstructed by various things. He eventally attempted a landing on part of a perimeter track that appeared clear but just before touching down a low obstruction was spotted. The pilot pulled the aircraft back into the air. A slight bump was felt but the aircraft remained in the air. Having climbed away the visibility was found to have improved enough for him to abandon attempting a landing there and eventually return to Sherburn in Elmet. During the remaining flight back to Sherburn in Elmet the pilot and passenger attempted to check the aircraft for damage as best they could from inside the cabin. They could not contact Sherburn in Elmet by radio prior to landing so went on to attempt a normal landing. On touching down at Sherburn in Elmet at 15.45hrs it was quickly realised that the aircraft had no nose undercarriage and it skidded to a halt on the nose. Later a check was made at Leconfield where the nosewheel and the leg were discovered on the perimeter track. Where the aircraft had attempted to land at Leconfield was part of the old airfield that was then occupied by the Army where it was used for driver training. The site was laid out with simulated roads, roundabouts and traffic lights. The aircraft's nose wheel struck a concrete kerb that was part of this.
The aircraft was registered to Sherburn Aero Club at the time of this incident.
Pilot - Mr Terence S Hall.
Passenger - Miss Nicola Rose Hall.