What happened
A flight departed Chambery, France, at 1605 hours, bound for Dunkeswell Aerodrome with Exeter Airport intended as an alternate. During the transit at FL270, the aircraft experienced some airframe icing, but otherwise proceeded without incident. Upon approaching the English south coast, the pilot descended to FL60 and transitioned into visual conditions.
As the flight approached Dunkeswell, the pilot attempted to contact the local radio station but received no response, leading to the assumption that the airfield had closed for the night. To assist with a visual approach, the pilot had previously placed white reflective panels along the edge of Runway 23. While navigating via GPS and monitoring the visibility of ground lights, the pilot noted scattered clouds and mist pockets in the vicinity of the approach path.
Approximately 2.5 nm from the runway threshold at an altitude of roughly 800 feet, the pilot encountered a pocket of mist and initiated a go-around to divert to Exeter. During this maneuver, the aircraft was configured with landing gear down and second-stage flaps extended. After regaining visual contact with the runway, the pilot attempted to resume the approach; however, a rapid descent occurred. Despite an attempt to increase engine power, the aircraft struck trees 1,600 metres short of the displaced threshold. The impact tore the wings from the airframe, though the fuselage remained upright in a grass field. There were zero fatalities, and the single passenger was able to exit the wreckage safely before returning to assist the pilot.
Findings
The accident resulted from an attempt to perform a night landing in foggy conditions at an airfield lacking runway lighting. The pilot relied on limited ground-based visual references, which became obscured when the aircraft entered a patch of fog.