What happened
On 9 May 1998, a Scheibe Falke SF25C, registration G-KAOM, was involved in an accident at the Bidford Gliding Site in Warwickshire. The flight was a private training session where the commander was conducting an examination of another instructor. The flight plan involved the instructor under test demonstrating a circuit, including a touch-and-go and a climb onto the downwind leg, after which the commander intended to take control for the approach.
During the approach phase, the commander was flying at a slightly higher speed than usual while intentionally undershooting the approach. At an altitude of approximately 100 feet, the instructor under test declared "I have control" and placed his hand on the control stick. The commander subsequently relinquished control. Immediately following this transfer, the instructor under test released the stick, applied full throttle, and selected full spoiler. This sequence of actions caused the motor glider to enter a steep nose-down attitude. Despite efforts by the commander to recover the aircraft, it struck the ground heavily in a level attitude, coming to rest across a hedge. Both occupants were able to exit the aircraft without assistance, and there were no injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the transfer of control and the subsequent actions of the crew. The investigation focused on the inputs made by the instructor under test during the critical moments of the approach. It was noted that the instructor under an examination had very limited experience as pilot in command on this specific aircraft type, having completed only 6 hours of such experience. The investigation also considered the psychological environment of the flight, specifically the pressure associated with undergoing a check flight.