What happened
On 2 September 2015, a CZAW Sportcruiser, registration G-OCRZ, was engaged in a private flight involving two occupants. The flight began at Firs Farm, where the pilot flew to Kemble to perform several circuits. After returning to Firs Farm, the pilot conducted further circuits before taking a brief 15-minute break.
Upon resuming the flight with the intention of performing more circuits, the pilot attempted the first approach. During this maneuver, the pilot misjudged the height of the flare, leading to a heavy landing. While there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, the impact caused damage to the aircraft's landing gear and the fuselage structure located behind the seats. The aircraft was subsequently taxied back to its hangar, where the extent of the structural damage was identified.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and subsequent inquiries. The investigation focused on the circumstances of the approach and the resulting impact on the airframe.