What happened
On 28 July 2002, a Rans S6-ES, registration G-BYRG, was performing a private flight from Shobdon to Haverfordwest. During the return journey, the pilot noted a declining cloud base, which was reported as 600 feet over the destination airfield and later dropped to 400 feet. Despite these conditions, the pilot proceeded toward the destination.
While approximately 12 nautical miles east of the airfield, the aircraft encountered sea mist. The pilot executed a 180-degree turn to divert to Pembrey, intending to use Swansea as a secondary alternate. However, as weather conditions continued to degrade, the pilot became aware of electricity pylons along the intended route. Consequently, the decision was made to perform an emergency landing in the nearest suitable field.
The aircraft approached the field at a speed of roughly 45 to 50 mph. Upon touchdown, the uneven terrain caused the nose wheel fork to fracture. The remaining stub of the landing gear dug into the rough ground, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who sustained no injuries, successfully shut off the fuel and ignition before exiting the aircraft and calling for assistance via mobile phone.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions and the pilot's decision-making process. While standard weather charts at the departure point indicated a generally clear forecast, specific warnings for the south-west coast noted that visibility could drop to 300 metres in fog, with stratus clouds extending from the surface to 1,000 feet. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft sustained damage to the engine cowling, propeller, tail fin, and left wing.