What happened
On 7 June 2002, an Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar, registration G-NIDG, departed from Insch airfield in Scotland. The two qualified pilots on board intended to navigate over mountainous terrain toward Feshiebridge. During the flight, weather conditions worsened, prompting the crew to steer the aircraft into a valley.
As the aircraft entered a valley, the crew found no visible exit due to low cloud cover. In an attempt to maneuver, they performed a 180-degree turn, but this movement led them into intermittent instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The loss of visual references caused the crew to become disoriented. Observing the ground in close proximity and uncertain of the terrain ahead, the crew attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft entered a stall at roughly 15 feet above the surface and struck the peat and heather with a high sink rate. Both crew members sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the crew attempted to utilize a technique common among some microlight operators, which involves flying at a reduced airspeed to achieve a tighter turning radius when encountering poor weather. However, the investigators found this approach was unsuitable for the circumstances. The investigation also noted that the combination of losing visual references during the turn and the sloping ground beneath the aircraft contributed to the crew's spatial disorientation. This disorientation created a perceived necessity to land immediately, despite the unsuitable terrain.
Findings
- The crew's decision to continue the flight despite deteriorating weather conditions.
- The use of an inappropriate flight technique involving reduced airspeed to facilitate a tighter turn.
- Spatial disorientation resulting from entering intermittent IMC and losing visual references.
- The aircraft's stall at a very low altitude during the landing attempt.