What happened
On 27 August 2019, a Pegasus Qu-asar IITC, registration G-MYJT, was engaged in a private flight from Rossall Field Airfield toward Kenyon Hall Farm. The pilot had previously completed the outbound leg of the journey earlier in the afternoon under favorable conditions. However, during the return leg, which commenced shortly before sunset, the pilot encountered deteriorating visibility due to heavy haze.
As the flight progressed, the pilot realized they had drifted significantly east of the intended track. While attempting to navigate using Winter Hill as a landmark, the pilot found that a thick layer of haze obscured most ground features. As light levels dropped, the pilot attempted to descend below the haze layer to regain visual references, but visibility remained limited to between several hundred metres and 4 km.
Unable to locate the destination and lacking a radio to request assistance, the pilot experienced increasing distress. While flying at a low altitude, the pilot encountered an unseen radio mast, which prompted the decision to perform a precautionary landing in a nearby field. During the approach to the chosen landing site, the aircraft struck power lines at approximately 1950 hrs. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries but was able to exit the wreckage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight planning, the meteorological conditions, and the sequence of events leading to the collision. Investigators noted that while the pilot's initial weather assessment suggested fine conditions, the actual visibility degraded significantly during the return flight.
Analysis of the timeline indicated that the pilot departed Rossall Field with very little time remaining before nightfall. The investigation also looked into the pilot's navigational difficulties, noting that the lack of radio communication prevented the crew from seeking external guidance when the track was lost. The investigation established that the pilot's decision to land in a field was an attempt to manage an emergency situation caused by the loss of visual references and the onset of darkness.