What happened
On 10 March 2018, a Dyn’Aero MCR01, registration G-CWMT, was performing a short local flight at Old Park Farm Airfield, located near Port Talbot, South Wales. During the landing phase, the pilot encountered windshear while attempting the flare. This atmospheric disturbance caused the left wing of the aircraft to drop. Although the pilot attempted to correct the wing's attitude, the right wingtip made contact with the ground while the aircraft maintained a higher-than-normal nose attitude.
In an attempt to regain control, the pilot applied additional power. However, this maneuver resulted in the aircraft overrunning the runway. The runway at this location measures approximately 340 metres in length, and the aircraft lacked sufficient distance to come to a halt before striking an earth bund situated at the base of a fence. The pilot sustained no injuries, and the aircraft was subsequently declared damaged beyond economical repair.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators reviewed the circumstances of the landing and the environmental conditions at the airstrip. It was noted that a previous incident involving windshear at this specific airfield had been documented in a 2013 AAIB report. The investigation also considered guidance from CAA Safety Sense Leaflet 12 regarding strip flying, which advises pilots to remain prepared for unexpected effects such as windshear and downdraughts, and to execute a go-around if turbulence or crosswinds become unmanageable.