What happened
On 15 June 2008, a Denney Kitfox Mk 3, registration G-BWWZ, was conducting a private flight for the purpose of practicing circuits at City Airport Manchester (Barton). Following 38 minutes of flight and five completed landings, the pilot attempted a landing on Runway 27. The aircraft bounced off the runway surface, and despite the pilot applying power to mitigate the effect, a second bounce occurred.
During this second bounce, the airspeed began to drop significantly. The pilot attempted a go-around by applying full power and adopting a nose-up pitch. However, the aircraft began drifting toward the left. Because the pilot was focused on monitoring the airspeed indicator, they failed to notice the aircraft's trajectory toward the airfield perimeter. The aircraft subsequently struck trees at the edge of the parking area and spun to the ground, colliding with two cars in the airfield car park. The pilot sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence and the pilot's actions following the second bounce. It was established that the aircraft's airspeed was only approximately 5 mph above stall speed and the climb rate was insufficient during the attempted go-around. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's self-assessment, noting that the pilot felt they were "behind the aeroplane" and failed to adequately correct the lateral drift or prioritize airspeed buildup.