What happened
On 23 March 2016, an Ikarus C42 FB100, registration G-CFIT, was conducting a private flight at Clench Common Airfield in Wiltshire. During the approach to Runway 08, the pilot noted that the aircraft's speed was higher than intended. The aircraft touched down further down the runway than desired on a damp, slightly down-sloping grass surface.
Realising the aircraft would likely be unable to stop within the remaining runway length, the pilot assessed the situation and determined there was not enough space to perform a subsequent takeoff to clear the trees located in the adjacent field. Consequently, the aircraft continued along the runway and overran onto a ploughed area. During this excursion, the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in damage to the propeller and potential damage to the right wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The examination focused on the landing conditions, the aircraft's speed during approach, and the decision-making process regarding the overrun.