What happened
On 16 September 2008, a Pegasus Quantum 15-912, registration G-CCWN, was conducting a trial lesson near Sutton Meadows, Cambridgeshire. The flight was a student's introductory session in a flex-wing microlight, which features a tandem seating configuration. During the flight, the instructor permitted the student to take control of the aircraft, guiding them through a circuit and an approach to land.
As the aircraft reached approximately 100 ft on the final approach, it began drifting to the right of the runway centerline. In response, the instructor applied full left centerline correction and verbally instructed the student to take control, stating, "I have control." However, the student reacted by pulling the control bar fully backward, applying significant power, and then attempting to push the bar forward. This sequence of inputs caused the aircraft to strike the ground at approximately 80 mph. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air before touching down a second time and coming to rest roughly 40 m from the initial impact site. The aircraft was destroyed, but there were no injuries to the two crew members.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight sequence and the specific control inputs made by the student during the critical phase of the approach. The investigation focused on the transition of control between the instructor and the student and the subsequent physical movements of the control bar.