What happened
On 16 September 2008, a Pegasus XL-Q, registration G-MTPS, was conducting a private flight near Redlands Airfield in Wiltshire. During the approach to Runway 17, the pilot assessed the wind conditions to be originating from the south. However, as the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 10 feet during the round-out phase, it encountered a sudden, swirling gust of wind coming from the east.
This unexpected wind shift prevented the pilot from maintaining effective control of the aircraft's descent. Consequently, the Pegasus XL-Q struck the grass airstrip with excessive force. The impact resulted in minor injuries to the pilot, but the aircraft sustained substantial structural damage, including a cracked cockpit and failures in the wing connection block and base tube.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the approach and the impact on the airframe. The assessment focused on the meteorological conditions at the time of the landing and the pilot's ability to compensate for the sudden change in wind direction.