What happened
On 20 October 2012, a Pegasus Quantum 15-912, registration G-MDBC, was engaged in a training flight near Sandbach, Cheshire. During the final approach to the airstrip, the student pilot misjudged the landing distance. This error led to a series of pitch corrections, where the aircraft was moved forward and back. Consequently, the aircraft touched down approximately 10 metres short of the paved runway surface, landing instead in a muddy ploughed field.
Upon entering the field, the aircraft experienced rapid deceleration. The impact caused extensive damage to the wing and the trike structure. The sole occupant, a student pilot, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital, though they were discharged later that same day.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the flight parameters during the landing phase and the environmental conditions of the landing site. The investigation established that the pilot, who had 35 total flying hours, was performing a training maneuver at the time of the incident.