What happened
On 11 January 2013, an Aeroprakt A22-L Foxbat, registration G-CEOP, was conducting a private local flight near an airstrip oriented 06/24. During the initial departure from the airstrip, the aircraft stopped approximately 20 metres short of the runway surface. This premature stop resulted in the landing gear and propeller making contact with the ground.
Following the incident, the pilot, who was uninjured, secured the aircraft and exited via the left-hand door. The weather conditions at the time were fair, characterized by good visibility and a surface wind of 8 knots from 220°.
Upon returning to the airfield, the pilot attempted a south-westerly approach. However, during the short finals stage of the approach, the aircraft experienced a sudden sink. Despite the application of full power, the aircraft could not be leveled in time and struck the ground.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of events during both the departure and the subsequent return to the airstrip, specifically looking at the impact of environmental factors on the aircraft's flight path.