What happened
On 24 May 2012, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-MZMS, was performing a private flight at Chase Farm Airstrip in Gloucestershire. The pilot had previously attempted two approaches from the west but was forced to abandon them due to the presence of sheep at the western end of the grass runway.
To avoid a group of sheep located near the threshold, the pilot decided on a third approach from the east. This final attempt was initially flown at an angle to the runway centerline, with the intention of executing a right-hand turn late in the maneuver to align with the runway. During this process, the pilot misjudged the distance between the aircraft and a nearby copse of trees. The left wing of the aircraft struck a tree, which induced a left-hand spin. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground near the runway threshold.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The aircraft sustained damage that was deemed beyond economic repair. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board during the incident.