What happened
On 6 June 2010, a P and M Quik R, registration G-CFTE, was conducting a private local flight with one passenger near Oakley Airfield, Buckinghamshire. The pilot initiated a straight-in approach from approximately 3 nautical miles out. As the aircraft neared the runway threshold, the pilot determined the flight path was too high and subsequently reduced the throttle.
Upon contact with the runway, the aircraft bounced. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power to perform a go-around. However, this maneuver resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The right wing dropped, causing the aircraft to turn sharply to the right. Despite recovery efforts, the aircraft struck the ground again, eventually rolling to a stop in a field of crops adjacent to the runway. The impact caused damage to the front fork, the right main wheel, and the base tube.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight sequence and the pilot's actions following the initial runway contact. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision to apply full power during the bounce and the subsequent aerodynamic state of the aircraft. It was established that while the pilot reacted quickly to apply power, the aircraft's high wing attitude and low airspeed were not adequately managed to prevent the loss of lift.