What happened
On 21 August 2013, a Europa XS, registration G-GBXS, was involved in a fatal accident at the Common Farm airstrip in Wymesholt, Leicestershire. The pilot and passenger had arrived at the farm strip that morning with intentions to fly to East Anglia. Following a period of refueling and pre-flight checks, the aircraft departed the runway in a north-westerly direction.
During the initial climb, a witness observed the aircraft perform an abrupt 70-degree left roll while making a crosswind turn, though the pilot managed to recover to a level attitude. While flying on the downwind leg, the aircraft maintained a relatively low altitude of approximately 160 feet. Evidence suggests the pilot had decided to abandon the original flight plan and was performing a low-level circuit to return to the home airstrip, likely due to an engine issue.
As the aircraft entered the base turn towards the runway, the airspeed decreased significantly. The aircraft subsequently entered a stall, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft struck the ground in a steep, nose-down attitude, resulting in two fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was located in a field adjacent to the runway. The engine, a Rotax 914-UL, showed no signs of mechanical failure or thermal distress, though the FLYdat engine monitoring system had recorded a cylinder head temperature (CHT) alarm prior to the accident.
Data recovered from the aircraft's GPS and a nearby wind turbine provided a precise timeline of the flight. The GPS track confirmed that the aircraft was flying at a low altitude and was positioned closer to the runway than usual during its downwind leg. Analysis of the flight controls and the stall warning system showed both were fully functional.
Pathological examinations confirmed that both occupants sustained fatal injuries consistent with a high-impact, nose-down collision. Evidence from the pilot's injuries suggested he was conscious and attempting to use the control column at the time of impact.