What happened
On 29 June 2013, a Pegasus Quantum 15-912, registration G-EEKS, was performing a private flight when it encountered difficulties during the landing phase near Plaistows Farm, St Albans. While approaching the airfield, the aircraft was positioned slightly off the centerline, facing a left-hand crosswind component.
During the round-out phase of the landing, the aircraft was traveling at a speed that was too low for its altitude. As the pilot attempted to manage the descent, a sudden gust of wind caused the aircraft to stall at an altitude of approximately 3 feet. This gust also caused the aircraft to roll into an inverted position. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground nose-first.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the flight conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the final moments of the flight. The investigation established that the aircraft's controls were functioning normally and that there was no evidence of sluggishness in the pilot's responses or the aircraft's control surfaces.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to its wing, propeller, and pod.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
- The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft was too high and too slow during the round-out phase of the landing.
- A wind gust acted as a contributing factor by inducing a stall and causing the aircraft to invert.