What happened
On 5 April 2019, an Ikarus C42 FB80, registration G-CDSW, was performing a private triangular cross-country flight. The flight itinerary involved departing Headcorn Airfield, visiting Lydd, and proceeding to Deanland Airfield before returning to the starting point. After departing Lydd, the pilot noted increased wind speeds via the windsock.
Upon approaching Deanland, the pilot found that Runway 06 was in use, presenting variable wind conditions. During the final approach, the aircraft encountered significant turbulence and a strong crosswind, necessitating a crab angle of approximately 40 degrees to maintain the inbound track. In an attempt to manage the approach, the pilot transitioned to a wing-down technique; however, this resulted in a perceived slip and a loss of altitude, prompting a return to the crab approach. During the flare, the pilot reduced throttle and aligned the aircraft with the runway centerline, which caused the aircraft to drift toward the left. Despite attempts to correct the drift with opposite rudder, the aircraft bounced upon touchdown, veered off the runway, struck a runway marker, and eventually crashed into a hedge. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to its wings, fuselage, landing gear, and propeller.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight planning and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot acknowledged that while preparing for the flight, excessive focus was placed on communications and circuit procedures rather than assessing potential weather fluctuations. Furthermore, the investigation established that the pilot did not revise the flight plan despite observing changing weather conditions during the mission.