What happened
On 20 February 2010, a Pegasus Quantum 15-912, registration G-BYPB, was conducting a private local flight near Redlands Airfield, Wiltshire. The flight, which included one pilot and one passenger, proceeded without incident until the final stages of the approach to grass Runway 24R. During the landing sequence, the pilot noted that the aircraft was positioned low and off the runway centreline. In an attempt to correct the flight path, the pilot unintentionally pulled the control bar towards himself instead of pushing it away. This action caused a sudden pitch-down movement, leading to a heavy impact with the runway. The aircraft came to a stop on the airfield, sustaining severe damage to the trike unit. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained any injuries, as both were wearing appropriate safety harnesses and helmets.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight circumstances and the pilot's experience. The commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence and possessed significant flying experience, totaling 3,781 hours, though only eight of those hours were on this specific type of flex-wing microlight. The investigation focused on the pilot's physical response to the low approach and the specific mechanics of the control input used during the landing phase.