What happened
On 17 July 2010, a Savannah VG Jabiru, registration G-TTAT, was conducting a private flight at Stoke Airfield in Kent. During the approach to the 530-metre grass runway 24, the pilot maintained an airspeed of 50 knots, intending to land near the start of the runway. While the weather was generally good, the airfield was experiencing gusty westerly winds.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 10 feet, it ceased to maintain flight during the round-out and flare phases. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground with significant force. Despite the impact, there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and both occupants were able to exit the aircraft without assistance. No fire occurred following the impact.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The impact resulted in extensive damage to several components of the aircraft, including the propeller, the left wing tip, the nose and main landing gear, the cowlings, the cockpit floor, and the firewall.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the accident was the pilot's lack of experience with this specific aircraft type. While the pilot was familiar with the airfield, he had only accumulated seven hours of flight time on the Savannah VG Jabiru prior to the occurrence.