What happened
On 6 May 2000, a Rans Coyote (S6-ESD XL), registration G-MZDG, was conducting a private flight from Barton Aerodrome, Manchester. The flight departed from Runway 09, a grass runway measuring 621 metres in length, under fine and sunny weather conditions with a light wind of 8 knots.
Shortly after takeoff, as the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the left wing dropped, an event likely triggered by turbulence. In the process of attempting to recover control, the pilot entered a stall. This led to a right-hand turn that resulted in a crash landing back on the runway near the upwind threshold. The aircraft came to a stop upright, facing backwards toward the runway threshold.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events following the loss of control and the resulting damage to the aircraft. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse, with part of the main gear lost entirely. Additionally, the propeller was smashed, the engine suffered a shockload, and the structure of the cockpit area was distorted.
At the time of the accident, the pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence for microlight aeroplanes and had 44 total flying hours, only 5 of which were on this specific type. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped the aircraft without injury, as the seating remained intact and the doors were functional.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a stall induced by the pilot's recovery attempt following a wing drop.
- Turbulence likely caused the initial loss of lift in the left wing.
- The pilot's limited experience on this specific aircraft type may have contributed to the loss of control during the recovery phase.