What happened
On 23 June 2016, a Maule MX-7-160, registration N3110J, was conducting a private flight from Forfar to a location near Alford, Aberdeenshire. The pilot intended to land at Meikle Eindovie, a site selected from a GPS database as a microlight or sports airfield. After flying at 3,000 ft, the pilot arrived at the GPS-indicated coordinates but could not identify a suitable landing area.
To search for the site, the pilot descended to 600 ft agl, deployed landing flaps, and began circling the area. During a turn to the north, the pilot observed a high rate of descent on the vertical speed indicator. Despite applying power in an attempt to climb, the aircraft could not clear rising terrain. The aircraft struck a fence and a wall before flipping onto its back. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, though there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation established that the intended destination, Meikle Eindovie, is not a recognized airfield. Verification with the GPS manufacturer confirmed that the site was not present in the current database.
Meteorological data showed a southerly wind of approximately 25 mph in the vicinity at the time of the accident. The investigation also noted that the accident occurred while the aircraft was maneuvering at a low altitude, a phase of flight identified by safety organizations as high risk.
Findings
- The pilot encountered a severe downdraft, likely caused by a mountain wave, while flying on the lee side of the Grampian Mountains.
- The aircraft was maneuvering at a low altitude while searching for a landing site.
- The intended destination was not a valid airfield and was not in the GPS database.