What happened
On July 5, 2004, at approximately 20:05 UTC, a Rans S-7 Courier, registration G-BWKJ, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Moyne Airfield in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. The aircraft, a two-seat STOL kit-built model, was performing a landing on the southern portion of the runway.
During the final approach, the pilot noted that the descent rate became unexpectedly high just before reaching the ground. This resulted in a heavy landing on the runway's upslope. The impact caused the undercarriage to collapse and the wooden propeller to shatter. The fuselage also sustained substantial damage. Despite the impact, both the pilot and the single passenger exited the aircraft with nil injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was prompted by a notification from the pilot and a subsequent report submitted to the AAIU. Investigators reviewed the flight conditions, which were reported as CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK) with a light wind of 3-5 knots on the North/South runway.
In evaluating the circumstances, the investigation looked into the pilot's experience and familiarity with the aircraft. The pilot had 800 total flying hours, but only 5.15 of those hours were recorded on this specific type. Furthermore, the pilot had not undergone a formal check-out on the Rans S-7 Courier, having only completed a differences training course on a Piper Super Cub.