What happened
On 7 May 2017, a Quik GT450, registration G-CECA, was performing a private local flight near St Michaels Airfield in Lancashire. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, was in the process of returning to land on the grass Runway 15. At the time of the incident, wind conditions were reported as calm.
During the approach, the aircraft encountered an undulation on the runway surface. This caused the aircraft to bounce and briefly become airborne. Upon the second touchdown, the pilot assessed that the remaining runway length was inadequate to bring the aircraft to a halt. In an attempt to avoid overrunning the runway, the pilot applied engine power to initiate a go-around procedure.
As the aircraft began its climb, it failed to achieve enough altitude to clear the obstacles at the end of the runway. The aircraft struck an earth bund situated at the runway's edge, near a stream. This impact caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, leading to a subsequent impact with a second bund on the opposite side of the stream. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing attempt, the runway conditions, and the aircraft's performance during the aborted landing. The physical damage to the aircraft included significant damage to the wing, as well as damage to the fuselage and the trike structure.