What happened
On 9 August 2009, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-EEWZ, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Willingale Airfield, Essex. The aircraft, powered by a single Rotax 912ULS engine, was attempting to take off from a 400-metre grass strip designated as Runway 03.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft accelerated as expected. However, upon reaching a speed of roughly 55 mph, the pilot applied forward pressure to the controls. The aircraft lifted approximately two feet off the ground but failed to maintain flight. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft veered toward the right, causing the leading edge of the right wing to strike the ground. The aircraft then skidded across the surface for about 15 metres.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft was severely damaged.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Environmental conditions at the time of the occurrence included an air temperature of approximately 20°C and a light breeze originating from the south-east. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was carrying roughly 25 litres of fuel.