What happened
On 26 August 2007, a Pegasus XL-Q, registration G-MWMZ, was conducting a private flight at Clench Common Airfield in Wiltshire. During the approach to Runway 25, the pilot attempted two landings but was unable to stabilise the aircraft's speed, resulting in two go-arounds.
On the third approach, the pilot managed a more controlled descent. However, during the rounding-out phase of the landing, the aircraft rolled and struck the surface with significant force. The nosewheel subsequently dug into the grass runway, causing the aircraft to tip over. The incident resulted in severe damage to the wing and minor damage to the pod, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's recent maintenance history and the pilot's experience. It was noted that a new sail cloth had recently been installed on the aircraft. On 8 August 2007, during a flight test for a Permit to Fly, an inspector had observed erratic handling. While adjustments were made and a follow-up test was successful, the pilot noted during the accident flight that the aircraft felt unstable in roll and difficult to manage.
Findings
- The pilot's limited experience, having flown only 63 hours in total, contributed to the difficulty in managing the aircraft.
- The primary cause was the altered handling characteristics resulting from the newly fitted sail cloth, which made the aircraft unstable in roll and difficult to control during the landing phase.