What happened
On 24 November 2012, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-KWIC, departed Netherthorpe Airfield for a trial lesson. Although the pilot had reviewed meteorological forecasts and observed misty conditions at the airfield, the weather deteriorated significantly during the flight. While flying near Chesterfield, the pilot identified a thick bank of fog approaching the airfield.
After circling for approximately 20 minutes in an attempt to find a break in the weather, the pilot determined that nearby airfields, including Gamston, were also obscured by fog. Consequently, the decision was made to perform a forced landing in a field located roughly 3 km from Netherthorpe. The chosen site was situated near a road and contained power cables at one end.
During the approach, the pilot prepared for a soft field landing. However, as the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 20 ft, the windscreen and the pilot's helmet visor suddenly became obscured by misting. This loss of visibility caused the pilot to misjudge the touchdown, resulting in the nosewheel striking the ground with heavy force. The impact caused damage to the propeller, wing leading edge, front strut, base bar, pod, and front wheel forks. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the forced landing and the rapid deterioration of visibility. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process regarding the diversion and the physical factors that contributed to the heavy touchdown, specifically the sudden obscuration of the pilot's vision due to misting on the aircraft windscreen and helmet visor.