Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, a Europa (registration G-BWIV) with a single Rotax 912-UL piston engine, was manufactured in 1996. The pilot, aged 54, held a Private Pilot's Licence with IMC and Night Ratings. His total flying experience was 613 hours, with 29 hours on type, and only 4 hours in the last 90 days (2 hours in the last 28 days).
Sequence of Events
On 2 August 1998 at 0900 UTC, the pilot was flying a series of practice circuits at a farm strip at Kirkchrist Farm, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. The weather was fine with a light wind favouring Runway 35, which had an overall up-slope of 2° and a 4° up-slope about halfway along. The first two approaches resulted in go-arounds, which the pilot attributed to his lack of practice. The next two landings were satisfactory, but the third landing resulted in a bounce due to contact with a ridge about one-third down the runway. The pilot initially considered the bounce not significant, but when the aircraft bounced higher than anticipated, he elected to go-around. He applied full power and lowered the nose. Despite this, the aircraft contacted the runway again but then appeared to out-climb the local gradient of 4°. However, while still close to the ground and probably in ground effect, the pilot lost control. The aircraft departed to the left and contacted a wire fence some 10 metres from the edge of the runway.
Damage
The left wing was damaged in contact with the fence. No injuries were reported.
Probable Cause
The pilot attributed the cause of the accident to his late decision to go-around and his lack of recent flying practice.