What happened
On 10 November 2006, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-CCYE, was performing a private takeoff from the Manton Pegasus strip near Marlborough, Wiltshire. The aircraft was positioned on Runway 26, with the wind reported as seven knots from the south-west. As the pilot initiated the takeoff roll and applied forward pressure to the control frame base bar to rotate, the front wheel lifted from the ground. At this moment, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to veer toward the right.
Following the deviation, the pilot reduced engine power to idle and applied the brakes with gentle pressure. However, the aircraft continued to track to the right, eventually leaving the runway and entering an adjacent field. As the aircraft moved into the field, the wind caught the underside of the wing, causing the aircraft to roll onto its right side. The aircraft sustained damage to the bodywork, wing segments, battens, and tubes, while the pylon and 'A' frame were bent. The pilot, who was wearing a helmet and harness, exited the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of directional control during the rotation phase. The investigation focused on the interaction between the aircraft's handling characteristics and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The pilot reported that the initial rightward deviation was triggered by a sudden gust of wind during the rotation of the Pegasus Quik.