What happened
On 4 July 2009, a modified Fat Boy Flyer (registration G-MZDL) was involved in an accident near Rayne, Essex. During a private flight, the pilot attempted to land on a runway that was unfamiliar to them. As the aircraft approached the runway, the low position of the sun directly in front of the pilot impacted their visibility.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft bounced and subsequently touched down on its nosewheel. This caused the aircraft to veer toward the left, leading it to depart the runway surface. The aircraft entered an area of standing crops, where it ultimately overturned. The incident resulted in minor damage to the propeller blades, the rudder top, and the pod. The pilot escaped the accident without any injuries.
The investigation
Following the occurrence, the AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the landing. The investigation established that the pilot's approach to the unfamiliar runway was relatively fast. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's landing technique, noting that the flare judgement may have been compromised by the lighting conditions and the speed of the approach. The pilot, who had limited experience on this specific aircraft type, indicated intentions to undergo further training with an instructor to improve proficiency.