What happened
On 23 September 2007, an Aquila AT01, registration G-UILA, was performing a private flight when it experienced a landing accident at Lasham Aerodrome, Hampshire. The flight had originated from Headcorn Aerodrome. During the final approach, which began at an altitude of 500 ft, the pilot attempted to extend the approach to avoid undershooting the grass runway. In doing so, the pilot raised the nose of the aircraft while using full flaps. This maneuver resulted in an aerodynamic stall at approximately 15 ft above the ground. Consequently, the aircraft struck the grass runway on its nose landing gear, causing the gear to collapse and the propeller to make contact with the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and no fire occurred following the impact.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Before landing, the pilot had consulted the resident tug pilot regarding the current weather. While the forecast indicated a wind of 190º at 10 kt, the pilot noted that the actual surface conditions felt gusty and more significant than the windsock suggested. The investigation also reviewed the airfield's operational procedures, noting that the grass central area used for the landing is a common landing zone for visiting light aircraft. The pilot provided a self-assessment, noting that the accident was caused by maintaining insufficient airspeed during the final stages of the approach.