What happened
On 11 August 2020, a Team Minimax 91 microlight, registration G-MZPJ, was conducting a private cross-country flight originating from Fairoaks Airfield. After departing at approximately 1000 hrs, the pilot flew a route passing north of Brighton and Royal Tunbridge Wells, eventually heading west along the M25 motorway with the intent to return to Fairoaks.
At roughly 1210 hrs, while flying north of Reigate at an altitude of about 1,300 ft, the engine ceased operation. The pilot issued a mayday call and searched for a suitable location for an emergency descent. During the approach to the landing site in parkland near Gatton Bottom, the left landing gear struck an obstacle, believed to be thick vegetation. This impact caused the aircraft to rotate 90 degrees to the left before striking the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to break up, leaving the pilot with serious facial injuries and rendering them unconscious.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight duration. The aircraft, an amateur-built model, was powered by a Rotax 503 engine. Upon arrival at the scene, fire and rescue personnel attempted to drain remaining fuel from the aircraft but found the tanks empty.
Further analysis focused on the timeline of the flight. The engine was started at 0930 hrs, and the engine failure occurred at 1210 hrs, representing a total duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes. The pilot had refuelled the aircraft with 40 litres of fuel prior to departure. Based on the manufacturer's specified fuel consumption rates, the timing of the engine failure aligns with the exhaustion of the available fuel supply.
Findings
- The engine stopped because the aircraft ran out of fuel.
- The pilot's flight duration matched the maximum endurance possible with the 40 litres of fuel loaded.
- The landing gear struck rough vegetation during the forced landing, causing the aircraft to veer and crash.
- The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.