What happened
On 20 April 2019, an Escapade Kid, registration G-CGTZ, was conducting a private flight in the local area near Calton Moor Airfield, Staffordshire. During the approach to land on the grass Runway 06, the pilot experienced difficulties with the landing flare.
As the aircraft touched down, the pilot performed a late flare. This maneuver, occurring on a runway surface that slopes gently toward the south, led to a significant impact on the left side of the aircraft. The force of the landing caused the left landing gear to buckle and resulted in damage to the left wingtip.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the runway conditions and the pilot's actions during the final stages of the flight. It was noted that the pilot had 203 total flying hours, though only 4 of those hours were accumulated on this specific aircraft type. The investigation confirmed that the pilot sustained no injuries during the event.