What happened
On 15 June 2002, a DG-800B self-launching motor glider, registration G-MSIX, was participating in a gliding competition near Cropthorne. During the initial climb to 2,000 feet, the engine functioned without issue. However, approximately 20 minutes later, the aircraft encountered a loss of lift. At an altitude of roughly 1,000 feet, the pilot attempted to restart the engine. While the engine briefly ran at low speed, it failed to remain operational.
After verifying the fuel gauge, circuit breakers, and switches, the pilot was unable to achieve a sustained restart. The pilot then prepared for an emergency landing in a nearby field, lowering the landing wheel and establishing a base leg. During the final approach, the pilot observed that the landing area was rougher than anticipated and attempted to close the airbrakes to soften the descent. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a sudden, rapid descent, striking the top of a hedge before crashing into the field. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and tailplane, though the cockpit remained intact and there were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the engine and found it to be in proper working order following repairs. The pilot noted that while engine starts in flight had been successful previously, the rapid advancement of the throttle during the mid-air restart attempt might have contributed to the engine's failure.
Regarding the sudden loss of altitude on final approach, the investigation focused on the cockpit controls. The airbrake and flap levers are positioned adjacent to one another on the left side of the cockpit. The pilot suggested that the rapid descent was likely caused by the inadvertent selection of negative flap, potentially due to a manual error or a sleeve catching the lever while operating the airbrakes.