What happened
On 8 October 2000, a Europa aircraft, registration G-FLOX, was performing a private flight from Lasham to Brimpton Airfield in Berkshire. During the approach to the grass runway 25, the pilot maintained engine power at idle. While the aircraft was approximately 20 feet above the ground, the airspeed, attitude, and descent rate appeared normal. However, as the pilot initiated the final flare at an altitude of roughly three to four feet, the aircraft entered a stall and struck the ground with significant force. The impact caused damage to the landing gear, the propeller, the forward bulkhead, and the wheel well. There were no injuries to the two occupants, who were able to exit the aircraft without assistance, and no fire occurred following the impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances of the approach and the environmental conditions at the airfield. At the time of the accident, surface winds were recorded from the northwest at 5 to 8 knots. A local pilot suggested that the proximity of trees located to the north of the landing strip might have created a rollover effect, potentially causing the aircraft to sink during the final phase of the landing. The pilot also noted that his focus on achieving an optimal touchdown point likely led to an unintentional decay in airspeed while the engine was at idle power.