What happened
On 5 January 2017, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-CCOW, was performing a private flight from Athey’s Moor (Longframlington) Airfield. The weather conditions were clear with good visibility and light winds, though the grass runway was wet.
As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 40 to 45 knots during the takeoff roll, the pilot observed the aircraft drifting toward the right side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently left the prepared surface and entered an area of long grass. During this excursion, the right wing dropped, causing the aircraft to overturn. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the propeller, the trike, and the wing, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the pilot's recent flying history and the aircraft's operational requirements. The pilot had not flown for seven months and had only completed two previous solo flights in this specific aircraft type. While the aircraft's designer had provided familiarisation training to other members of the pilot's syndicate, the pilot had not personally attended this session, relying instead on briefings from others.
The investigation also reviewed the Pegasus Quik Operator’s Manual, which explicitly warns against operating the aircraft without completing a full training syllabus and receiving a certificate of competency. The manual further advises that pilots who have not flown within the previous three months should undergo a refresher lesson with a qualified instructor.
Findings
- The pilot had minimal experience on this specific type, with only four hours of flight time on the Pegasus Quik.
- The pilot had a significant period of inactivity, having not flown for seven months prior to the accident.
- Inadvertent application of the toe-brake while attempting to steer with the foot pedals is a suspected factor in the loss of directional control.
- The wet condition of the grass runway may have contributed to the loss of control if the brakes were engaged.