Fatal solo flight accident involving Ikarus C42 at Stoke Airfield

Casualties unknown • Stoke Airfield, near Burrows Lane, Middle Stoke, Kent, GB

A solo training flight in an Ikarus C42 ended in a fatal collision with high-tension power cables after the aircraft experienced an extreme nose-up attitude.

What happened

On 20 March 2016, a pilot was conducting a solo flight at Stoke Airfield in Kent, following a series of training sessions to convert from weight-shift to three-axis microlight flying. After completing several dual flights with an instructor, the pilot took off alone in the Ikarus C42, registration G-CDNR, to practice climbing and descending turns.

Witnesses observed the aircraft become airborne and immediately enter an exceptionally steep climb, reaching an extreme nose-up attitude described as "hanging on its prop." During this maneuver, the aircraft drifted left toward a railway line and a set of high-tension power cables. The right wing struck the cables, causing an electrical discharge, after which the aircraft dropped, struck the ground, and was consumed by an intense fire. The pilot sustained one fatality.

The investigation

Investigators examined the wreckage and the site, noting that the aircraft had struck the southern array of 400kV cables. The impact caused the right wing to separate near the root and triggered a phase-to-phase electrical discharge. The investigation also reviewed flight test data from a similar Ikarus C42 to assess the aircraft's handling characteristics during takeoff.

Engine inspections revealed no mechanical malfunctions, and the flight controls showed no evidence of disconnection prior to the crash. While the investigation looked into known structural issues regarding the fuselage tube and A-strut, the intact condition of the locating rivet suggested that an airborne structural failure of the A-strut was unlikely. The pilot's medical examination showed no pre-existing conditions or presence of drugs or alcohol.

Findings

  • The accident was caused by an in-flight loss of control following an extreme nose-up pitch.
  • The aircraft likely entered a stall, leading to a left wing drop and a subsequent departure from controlled flight.
  • It is possible the pilot applied a sustained aft side stick input to avoid the power cables, or an uncommanded climb occurred, though insufficient evidence could confirm which was more likely.
  • The aircraft's high angle of attack likely restricted the pilot's forward visibility, making it difficult to monitor the pitch attitude during the maneuver.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced an extreme nose-up pitch and subsequent stall, leading to a loss of control and collision with power cables; the investigation could not definitively determine if this was due to a deliberate pilot input or an uncommanded flight characteristic.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2016-03-20 Ikarus C42 FB100 accident near Stoke Airfield, near Burrows Lane, Middle Stoke, Kent, GB?

A solo training flight in an Ikarus C42 ended in a fatal collision with high-tension power cables after the aircraft experienced an extreme nose-up attitude.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2016-03-20 involved a Ikarus C42 FB100, registration G-CDNR, at Stoke Airfield, near Burrows Lane, Middle Stoke, Kent, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft experienced an extreme nose-up pitch and subsequent stall, leading to a loss of control and collision with power cables; the investigation could not definitively determine if this was due to a deliberate pilot input or an uncommanded flight characteristic.

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