What happened
On 1 September 2016, a Flight Design CTSW, registration G-OMSA, was conducting a private flight at Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Essex. The weather conditions at the time were clear with good visibility and a light 5-knot wind along Runway 21, which features a grass surface.
As the pilot approached the runway, the aircraft crossed the threshold at a speed of 60 KIAS. During the flare maneuver, the aircraft made heavy contact with the runway surface. This impact caused the nose of the aircraft to dig into the ground, leading to a pitch-over accident where the aircraft rolled onto its back. The pilot was able to exit the cockpit without assistance and sustained no injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to the fuselage, landing gear, tail, propeller, and right wing, and the windscreens were broken. There was no fire following the impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances of the landing and the condition of the airfield. The pilot noted the presence of a deep rut in the grass runway following the accident, though it was unclear if this feature was created by the impact or had existed prior to the flight. The pilot was unable to identify a specific cause for the sudden nose-down pitch during the landing sequence.