What happened
On 23 July 2010, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-CWIK, was performing a private flight departing from Runway 30 at Ashcroft Airfield, Cheshire. During the initial climb, the pilot experienced a violent jolt through the airframe. The pilot suspected this impact may have been caused by a bird strike.
Following the jolt, the aircraft's performance was noticeably reduced. Believing the structural damage to be minimal, the pilot decided to perform a short left-hand circuit to land on the grass Runway 31, which measures 650 metres in length. Upon approaching the runway, the pilot found the aircraft was still flying well, leading to a decision to execute a go-around using full power. However, the aircraft did not gain sufficient airspeed to become airborne before it reached the end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest on its side in an adjacent field. The impact resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, specifically a broken arm, and caused significant damage to the wing and trike unit.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the pilot's decision-making and the aircraft's performance following the initial impact. The investigation established that the pilot's assessment of the damage was incorrect; while the pilot believed the airframe was largely intact, a post-accident inspection revealed much more significant damage than initially perceived. The investigation also noted that the pilot could have allowed more time to plan the approach to Runway 31, given the aircraft's degraded performance.