What happened
On 4 December 2013, an EV-97 Teameurostar UK, registration G-CHJG, was performing a private flight at Cumbernauld Airport in North Lanarkshire. While the aircraft was on final approach to Runway 26, with winds recorded at 275 degrees and 11 knots, the pilot was maintaining an airspeed of 55 knots.
As the aircraft reached approximately 100 feet above the runway threshold, the nose of the plane unexpectedly moved upward and toward the left. In an attempt to stabilize the aircraft and complete the flare for touchdown, the pilot applied right rudder and nose-down elevator input. Despite these corrective actions, the aircraft struck the grass adjacent to the runway. The impact occurred with the nose and the left wing first, leading to damage to the nose landing gear, the aileron, and the left wingtip, as well as damage to the propeller.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the final stages of the approach. The pilot suggested that the sudden change in the aircraft's attitude may have been caused by a gust of wind leading to a brief stall.