What happened
On 21 September 2010, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight in an Ikarus C42 FB80, registration G-CDUK, at Croft Farm Strip in Defford, Worcestershire. During the approach to Runway 09, the pilot encountered light and variable winds from the south.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a bounce on the runway and began veering toward the left. In an attempt to avoid a runway edge marker, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. However, during this maneuver, the aircraft struck a hedge located a few meters from the runway in an adjacent field. The impact caused significant damage to the right wing and the forward section of the fuselage. The pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight circumstances and the pilot's experience level, noting that the commander was a student pilot with 40 total flying hours, all of which were on this specific aircraft type. The investigation also reviewed the mechanical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident.