What happened
On 15 April 2015, a Pegasus Quantum 15, registration G-MZGG, was performing a private flight departing from Sutton Meadows Airfield in Cambridgeshire. Shortly after departing from Runway 28, while the aircraft was climbing under full power at approximately 200 ft agl, the engine failed suddenly.
Following the loss of power, the pilot initially planned to land in a nearby farmer's field. However, the pilot identified that the aircraft likely lacked the necessary energy to clear a dyke situated between the runway terminus and the intended landing area. In an attempt to avoid the obstacle, the pilot tried to descend quickly to land on the runway itself. Despite this effort, the aircraft could not be stopped before the end of the runway, causing it to roll into the dyke. The aircraft ended its movement with its wings caught between the banks of the dyke and the pod partially submerged in water. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The assessment focused on the sequence of the engine failure and the subsequent flight path. The investigation noted that the pilot had intended to use the flight to practice engine failure procedures during the takeoff phase. The physical damage to the aircraft included extensive harm to the wing, front strut, base bar, steering mechanism, pod, and front strut.