What happened
On 23 January 2006, a Windlass Aquilla (Z-159) was conducting a private flight, departing from and intending to return to Wintervogel Aerodrome near Malmesbury. While the initial takeoff conditions were favorable, weather conditions began to degrade as the flight progressed, characterized by increasing wind strength and gustiness.
As the aircraft approached the gravel runway, the engine ceased operation. The pilot attempted to execute an emergency glide to reach the landing strip; however, the aircraft could not maintain sufficient altitude to reach the runway. The microlight subsequently crash-landed in a field adjacent to the aerodrome, where the impact caused the aircraft to nose over. The impact resulted in two injuries, though there were no fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's credentials. The pilot held a valid license and was medically fit for the flight. Records indicated that the aircraft had undergone its last annual inspection on 20 November 2005, with only 26.1 airframe hours logged since that maintenance event.
Following the accident, the engine was subjected to a ground test by an authorized technician. This testing confirmed that the engine was functioning correctly across all power settings, suggesting that the mechanical failure was not present during the post-accident inspection.