What happened
On 12 July 2018, a Pegasus Quantum 15-912, registration G-KAZI, was conducting a training flight at Headon Airfield in Nottinghamshire. The flight involved an instructor and a student. Following two successful landings on Runway 05, the instructor decided to demonstrate full control to the student by removing his hands from the control bar during the third landing attempt.
The approach was flown at idle power, with the student increasing power during short final to manage the approach speed and descent angle. As the aircraft crossed the threshold, the student began the round-out maneuver. However, the aircraft experienced a heavy touchdown, followed by a bounce that caused the aircraft to veer away from the centerline.
Although the instructor immediately took control and advanced the hand throttle, the aircraft could not be recovered in time. The aircraft struck a hedge situated parallel to and to the right of the runway, spinning 180 degrees horizontally before coming to a stop. Both the crew and the passenger sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events and the conflicting accounts of the control inputs. The instructor noted that he had instructed the student to perform a more pronounced round-out, but believed the student had instead provided an input that steepened the approach. The student did not recall making such an error. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's decision to relinquish physical contact with the controls during a critical phase of the landing.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a heavy touchdown and subsequent bounce.
- The instructor's decision to remove his hands from the control bar during the landing phase contributed to the inability to immediately correct the deviation.
- The instructor acknowledged that a higher level of vigilance should be maintained during critical stages of student training.