What happened
On 15 August 2016, a Pegasus Quantum 15-912 microlight, registration G-MZDH, was returning to Halfpenny Green from Otherton following an annual flight test. The flight was being conducted as a private operation by a pilot with 702 total flying hours. During the initial leg of the flight, the pilot had noted an unusually high cylinder head temperature, though this returned to normal levels before the return journey began.
As the aircraft approached Holy Cross Green, witnesses observed the microlight at an altitude between 200 and 500 feet. Various accounts of the final moments described the aircraft performing a steep climb or experiencing an engine cutout, followed by a sudden loss of control. One witness reported seeing the wing structure fold in half during a steep climb, after which the aircraft entered a spinning descent. The pilot, who sustained serious leg injuries, recalled the 'A' frame returning abruptly, causing the aircraft to spin.
The investigation
The AAIB examined witness statements and the pilot's account of the flight. While the pilot did not recall performing any manoeuvres that would exceed the aircraft's structural limits, the physical evidence and eyewitness accounts suggested a significant structural failure. The investigation considered the possibility of a 'whip stall' or a rapid turn that could have induced excessive wing loading. The wreckage, which was heavily broken up, was recovered from a site where the aircraft had struck a large agricultural bale, an impact that likely prevented more severe injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an irrecoverable spin following a structural failure of the wing.
- Excessive wing loading caused the wing to fold, leading to a descent pattern similar to a falling leaf.
- The specific manoeuvre that initiated the overstressing of the wing could not be definitively identified.
- The presence of a large farm bale at the impact site acted as an energy absorber, contributing to the survivability of the crash.