What happened
The incident occurred during a night solo training flight conducted at RAF Tangmere. The pilot had completed several touch-and-go maneuvers prior to initiating a new approach to land. As the aircraft descended on final approach, it impacted a tree with its right wing. Following this collision, the airplane crashed short of the runway threshold. The pilot sustained injuries in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation attributed the crash to poor judgement by the pilot. Specifically, the approach was conducted at an altitude that was too low, leading to the loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.