Accident
On 18 April 2014 at approximately 0843 UTC, a Pegasus Quik microlight aircraft, registration G-CCWR, was involved in an accident at Farway Common Airfield near Honiton, Devon, UK. The aircraft was destroyed. The pilot received fatal injuries, and the passenger suffered serious injuries.
History of the Flight
The pilot, aged 50, held a National Private Pilot’s Licence and had 162 hours of flying experience, with 100 hours on type. He had flown only 2 hours in the previous 90 days. He planned to fly from Westonzoyland Airfield to Farway Common Airfield, then onward to Salcombe, with his nine-year-old son as passenger. The aircraft was a flex-wing microlight (trike) with a Rotax 912ULS engine. It carried fuel, camping gear, and a tent stowed in the wing.
The flight departed Westonzoyland in good weather. The pilot used a tablet computer with SkyDemon navigation software. He attempted to contact Farway Common by radio but did not establish two-way communication; he broadcast position reports. After overflying the airfield at 550 ft above airfield level, he entered a right-hand downwind for Runway 36. Estimated wind was from 040° at 10 kt, gusting to 14 kt.
The passenger recalled a loss of altitude during the turn onto final, but the pilot did not mention issues. Data from the tablet showed the aircraft established on final about 0.5 nm from the runway at 400 ft. A witness saw the aircraft low; the engine sounded normal initially, then rough. The passenger reported normal engine operation throughout, with the pilot flying at 60 mph. Near the runway, the aircraft “dipped down”; the pilot increased power and pushed the control bar forward, but the aircraft struck treetops, descended steeply, and hit the ground on its left side. The passenger freed himself but was trapped by his sleeve; the pilot had undone his lap strap, removed his helmet, and left the aircraft before collapsing. Emergency services arrived; the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
No pre-impact aircraft or engine faults were found.
Meteorological Information
On the morning of 18 April, a ridge of high pressure brought stable, light to moderate north-easterly winds. Cloud base was 1,500–2,000 ft, visibility over 15 km. Surface winds were north-easterly around 10 kt, increasing with height; the 2,000 ft wind was estimated at 040°/14 kt. The 0850 UTC METAR at Exeter Airport (9 nm west, elevation 102 ft) showed wind 060°/9 kt, visibility ≥10 km, few clouds at 2,000 ft, temperature 10°C, dewpoint 5°C. A meteorological expert stated winds at Farway Common (771 ft) were likely stronger.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot had a valid Medical Declaration countersigned on 11 March 2014. A post-mortem found internal abdominal and severe chest injuries. The passenger sustained cuts, bruises, and a broken arm. The pathologist noted the pilot’s chest injuries may have occurred when the wing struck trees, driving the control bar into his chest. Similar injury patterns were noted in two previous flex-wing microlight accidents where the wing or A-frame impacted a fixed structure; in all three cases, the diagonal shoulder strap was not used. The pilot’s weight plus clothing was 128 kg. Toxicology tests for alcohol and drugs were negative. No pre-existing medical condition was found that could have impaired performance.
Pilot Information
The pilot gained his National Private Pilot’s Licence between April 2008 and May 2009 on flex-wing microlights. He acquired G-CCWR in March 2011 and logged nearly 65 hours in it by July 2013. A Certificate of Revalidation was signed on 16 February 2013, valid to 6 March 2015. His last logged flight was 17 July 2013; however, airfield records indicated flights on 26 August 2013 and a local flight on 12 April 2014. The aircraft underwent repairs between flights and was flown back from Marlborough to Westonzoyland on 15 March 2014.
Airfield Information
Farway Common Airfield, elevation 771 ft, has two grass runways. Circuit height is 800 ft above airfield level. Runway 36 is 550 m long and 18 m wide; its markings were faded. No edge markers were present; mowing patterns made the runway appear narrower. A hedge about 2.5 m high along the southern boundary was noted in flight guides. A line of trees perpendicular to the approach stood about 50 m south of the hedge.
Probable Cause
It was probable that turbulence and downdraughts contributed to the aircraft’s descent into trees.