Accident Overview
On 15 July 2021, at approximately 1035 hours UTC, a Cessna 120 (registration G-AJJT) sustained severe damage during a forced landing at Lower Withial Farm in Somerset. The aircraft, manufactured in 1947 and equipped with a single Continental Motors Corp C85-12F piston engine, was being operated on a private flight with only the pilot on board. The pilot, aged 76, held a National Private Pilot’s Licence and had accumulated 696 flying hours, of which 608 were on the accident type.
History of the Flight
The pilot conducted a pre-flight walk-round, checking fuel and oil levels. Start-up, power checks, and pre-takeoff procedures were reported as normal. Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 100 ft above ground level (agl), the engine faltered, misfired twice, and ceased operation. The pilot immediately turned the aircraft to avoid buildings, established a glide descent, and executed a forced landing in a nearby corn field. The landing was heavy, resulting in severe damage to the left wing, propeller, and landing gear. The pilot was uninjured and exited the aircraft unaided.
Investigation Findings
According to the pilot’s account, he did not attempt to restart the engine due to the aircraft’s low altitude, instead focusing on maintaining airspeed and selecting a suitable field. In his analysis, the pilot considered that fuel starvation—possibly from a blockage or an empty tank—might have caused the stoppage. However, after the accident, the right tank (which was selected at the time) showed between one-quarter and one-half on the fuel gauge. No other evidence was available to determine the cause, and the AAIB report concluded that the reason for the engine failure remains unknown.