A CROSSWIND caused a plane to crash in Huddersfield, says a report.

The light aircraft finished up upside down after crashing on landing at Crosland Moor Airfield after a flight from Manchester.

The pilot received slight injuries and his passenger was unhurt.

But the aircraft was badly damaged.

The crash happened on the morning of May 3 as the Skyranger, built in 2005 and owned by Eric Clayton, trustee of the Barton Syndicate, of 72 Staley Hall Road, Stalybridge, came in to land.

An Air Accident Investigation Branch report says the 49-year-old pilot, who had 120 hours flying experience, could not stop the aircraft leaving the runway after landing in a crosswind. The report said: “The pilot flew a flapless approach at 60 knots and touched down to the left of the runway centreline.

“The pilot was unable to align the aircraft with the runway after landing and it left the paved surface on the left, upwind side.’’

The report said the plane then struck a low mound of earth on the side of the runway and the nose-wheel failed.

The plane tipped over and came to rest upside down.

There was some damage to the cockpit, but the pilot and the passenger, who had both been wearing full safety harnesses, left the aircraft using the side doors.