What happened
On 4 April 2015, a Sipa 903, registration G-ASXC, was performing a private flight at Eaglescott Airfield in Devon. While attempting to land on Runway 07, the pilot encountered a significant wind gust, estimated to be from 010º at 14 knots, which destabilised the approach.
In response to the turbulence, the pilot applied full power to initiate a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a yaw and a left roll. The aircraft subsequently struck a glider trailer and then collided with a hedge located roughly 150 m from the runway edge. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, but the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight circumstances and the pilot's actions during the aborted landing. The pilot, who held a Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence and had 144 total flying hours, provided information regarding the wind conditions and the aircraft's behavior. The investigation established that the aircraft was flying at a relatively low speed when the go-around was initiated. The pilot noted that insufficient rudder application contributed to the loss of directional control during the power increase.