Skyranger 582(1), G-CGMK, 6 April 2013
Skyranger 582(1), G-CGMK
Summary:
The grass runway at Sackville Farm had been unusable for most of the previous three months due to snow and heavy rain. On the day before the accident, the pilot inspected the runway and was satisfied that, although the ground was still soft, it was suitable for microlight operations. The following day, several other aircraft were flying from the airfield. The wind was from 020° at about 7 kt and variable, giving a slight tailwind on occasions on Runway 31.
The flight was uneventful until final approach, when the pilot encountered a rising thermal. This necessitated a slipped approach, with the pilot recovering from the slip shortly before landing. Mindful of the soft ground, the pilot ‘held off’ to reduce airspeed to as low as possible, before making a normal touchdown. As he relaxed pressure on the controls, the aircraft decelerated rapidly as the nose leg dug into the surface and folded underneath the aircraft. At very slow speed, the aircraft continued to pitch nose down and inverted. The pilot was uninjured and vacated the aircraft without difficulty.
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