What happened
On 16 July 2016, a pilot was conducting a private flight in a Pegasus Quantum 15, registration G-MZCR, at East Haxted Farm Airstrip in Kent. During the approach to the grass runway known as Strip 4, the aircraft encountered unexpected turbulence and thermal activity. As the aircraft was low to the ground, the left wing lifted abruptly, prompting the pilot to abort the landing and initiate a go-around using the foot throttle.
Despite the application of power, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft veered toward a hedgerow on the north side of the runway and struck an oak tree at a height of approximately 15 feet. The impact caused the aircraft to become entangled in the tree canopy. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries to his chest and right hand and required extraction by emergency services.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the site, noting that the aircraft had struck the tree at a low speed. The examination of G-MZCT revealed that the engine was producing power at the time of impact, with fuel present in the carburettor bowls and the propeller showing tip damage consistent with an active engine. No pre-existing technical defects were found in the aircraft's systems or controls.
The investigation also looked into the environmental conditions. The area was experiencing warm weather, and the presence of drying hay in nearby fields likely contributed to the thermal activity. Witnesses observed the aircraft appearing unstable and flying at an acute angle during its final approach before the collision occurred.
Findings
- The pilot chose to fly in the early afternoon, a period when thermal activity and turbulence were more likely due to the warm temperature and varied terrain.
- The decision to fly at this time may have been influenced by the desire to avoid making the airstrip operator wait for the post-flight de-rigging process.
- The pilot likely underestimated the intensity of the thermic conditions and the significant control forces required to manage the aircraft in such turbulent air.
- The aircraft's loss of control was primarily caused by the sudden wing lift induced by low-level thermals during the landing phase.