What happened
On 18 January 2010, a P&M Aviation QuikR, registration G-DALI, was engaged in the first leg of a charity flight from Gloucestershire Airport to Sydney, Australia. The pilot, an experienced flyer with approximately 500 hours on flex-wing microlights, departed for Le Touquet, France, at 1041 hrs. During the flight, the pilot navigated through the London airspace, requesting assistance from Farnborough ATC to negotiate the area around Heathrow.
As the flight progressed, the pilot declared an intention to divert to Abbeville due to weather concerns. Radar and satellite data showed the aircraft performing various maneuvers, including a period of intermittent contact and a track that deviated from the intended course. At approximately 1255 hrs, radar contact with the aircraft was lost while it was over the English Channel, near Dungeness. While the pilot's body was recovered later that day, no wreckage or aircraft components were ever located.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined radar tracks, satellite positioning data, and meteorological reports. The investigation noted that the aircraft was equipped with a portable satellite tracking system that provided GPS-derived altitude information. Analysis of this data indicated the aircraft had generally been flying between 2,000 and 3,000 feet before climbing to higher altitudes during the flight.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's medical history and the aircraft's configuration, which included an additional 80-litre fuel tank. The investigation looked into the possibility of a mechanical failure, but the lack of recovered wreckage prevented a definitive conclusion. Pathological evidence from the autopsy indicated the pilot died from severe injuries sustained during a high-force impact with the sea, suggesting the aircraft struck the water in an upright orientation at a high rate of descent.
Findings
- The pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions, including fog and low cloud, while crossing the Channel.
- The aircraft's final maneuvers were consistent with attempts to avoid adverse weather or navigate around restricted airspace.
- The aircraft likely experienced a loss of control at altitude, potentially due to disorientation from poor visibility or a need to manage complex navigation.
- The absence of any distress calls or evidence of mechanical failure suggests the accident was not caused by a known structural or engine issue.
- The pilot was not wearing an immersion suit at the time of the accident, which would have significantly increased survival time in the cold sea temperatures.