A Fife pilot crashed his plane as he was preparing to re-validate his flying licence.
Stewart Russell’s Piper Super Cub landed on its roof after clipping a parked combine harvester at Pilmuir Farm, on the outskirts of Lundin Links.
Details of the July incident emerged following the publication of a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Mr Russell, 75, told the government body that an unexpected movement by his single-engine craft as he was landing put him on an unavoidable collision with the parked combine, despite his best efforts to avoid it.
The AAIB report states: “The pilot took off from the farm strip, which he has flown from for 23 years, to prepare for a skills test to re-validate his licence.
“He completed several circuits and manoeuvres, including a satisfactory practice of a baulked landing, before making his final approach.
“There was a north-easterly wind and no unusual turbulence was apparent during the approach but, after touching down and rolling approximately 25 metres, the aircraft suddenly swung right.
“The pilot reacted by increasing power and taking off again, but he could not prevent the aircraft’s right wing from striking a stationary combine harvester.”
Emergency services were sent to the farm following the incident, which happened at Mr Russell’s private airstrip, and he was transferred to Ninewells Hospital for treatment.
Mr Russell told the AAIB he believed a sudden gust of wind had been responsible for the movement of his plane on his final landing attempt.