What happened
On 29 July 2015, a Eurostar aircraft, registration G-CEDX, was conducting a private flight from Gloucestershire Airport to Culdereose, including a planned refueling stop at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon. During the arrival at Dunkeswell, the pilot attempted an approach to Runway 35 using three stages of flap. Due to a significant crosswind from the left, the pilot initiated a go-around at approximately 100 ft after observing instability during the approach.
Following the aborted landing, the pilot identified that Runway 22 offered a more favorable headwind component. A second approach was attempted on Runway 22, again utilizing three stages of flap. However, immediately prior to touchdown, a sudden gust of wind caused the aircraft to bank toward the left, resulting in the left aileron making contact with the ground. The pilot subsequently performed another go-around and diverted to Exeter. Following turbulence encountered during an approach to Exeter's Runway 26, the pilot returned to Gloucester, where the aircraft landed safely.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight conditions, the pilot's decision-making regarding runway selection, and the configuration of the aircraft during the landing attempts. The investigation also considered the impact of wind conditions and the aircraft's aerodynamic state during the final moments before the wing strike.