Date:	Thursday 6 July 2017
Time:	18:16
Type:	Best Off SkyRanger 912(2)
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	G-CCDH
MSN:	BMAA/HB/233
Year of manufacture:	2003
Engine model:	Rotax 912-UL DCDI
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Location:	Gristhorpe, near Filey, North Yorkshire, England -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Eshott Airfield, Bockenfield, Felton, Northumberland (X5ES)
Destination airport:	St. Neot's-Little Gransden Airfield (EGMJ)
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The aircraft, an amateur built Sky Ranger 912, one of two airplanes that experienced weather related force landings to farm field terrain in Gristhorpe, near Filey, North Yorkshire on 6 July 2017. The microlight overturned and sustained medium damage; the pilot and passenger on board were not injured. The aircraft came to rest inverted in a wheat field with damage to the nose wheel and propeller. According to the following press release from North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service:

"Filey Road, Gristhorpe
TOC: 18:24
Crews from Scarborough, Filey and Tadcaster were mobilised to a report of a light aircraft down in a field. No fire service action was required. Incident was left with the police and ambulance service."

Aircraft type, registration and damage regarding the second microlight was not reported. Pictures in Source #2 suggest that the second microlight is also a Sky Ranger. No injuries reported.

UPDATE: The incident was the subject of an AAIB Investigation, and the following is the summary from the AAIB Report...

"AAIB investigation to Sky Ranger 912(2), G-CCDH
Inverted during precautionary landing in a field of standing crop, Filey, North Yorkshire, 5 July 2017.

The aircraft was one of two on a flight from Eshott to Little Gransden, near Cambridge, which was its home airfield; a flight of over 200 nm. Just prior to takeoff, the METAR recorded by Durham Tees Valley Airport (EGNV), which is approximately 50 nm south of Eshott, was visibility of 10 km or more but broken cloud at 1,100 ft. The EGNV TAF issued at 13:57 hrs were 10 km visibility with broken cloud at 1,200 ft but occasionally between 1500 hrs and midnight, visibility 6,000 m, light rain and drizzle with broken cloud at 700 ft. In addition, between 1500 hrs and midnight there was a 40% chance of 3,000 m visibility with light drizzle, mist and broken cloud at 300 ft.

The aircraft took off from Eshott at 15:27 hrs, and followed the coastline south. After flying for approximately 90 nautical miles, the aircraft arrived abeam Filey on the east coast. The formation had discussed making a stop at Bridlington to assess the weather conditions which was a further 6 nautical miles from Filey. At the time the aircraft was flying at a GPS altitude of approximately 850 ft and the pilot reported seeing cloud ahead almost down to sea level.

The pilot decided to turn around and head towards Durham but the cloud to the north had also descended. At this stage he decided to divert immediately but the available airfields were not appropriate due to their elevation and the cloud base. He decided to perform a precautionary landing in a field and after considering all options chose what he perceived to be a stubble field. This was in fact a standing crop and, on landing, the aircraft sank into the crop, causing it to roll over. Both occupants were suspended by their full harnesses but
then escaped uninjured.

Prior to takeoff, the pilot considered that the weather forecast for the coming two days was unfavourable and this influenced his decision to get back to his home airfield. He considered the weather as “not ideal” but also thought that it would clear during the flight. In addition, he considered that the lower light levels and different appearance of the field from the air may have influenced the mis-identification of a suitable field for a precautionary landing.

=AAIB comment=
This accident highlights the need for careful weather and diversion planning when undertaking a cross-country flight. CAA Safety Sense Leaflet No 23, ‘Pilots – It’s Your Decision’ provides useful information on factors which may affect pilot decision making

=Damage Sustained to airframe=
Per the above AAIB Report, damage was sustained to "Nosewheel, propeller, [and] wing". However, the aircraft seems to have been repaired and returned to service, having accumulated a total of 866 flying hours on the airframe as at 29 June 2023

1. AAIB Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a0ac5d9ed915d0ade60db64/Skyranger_912_2__G-CCDH_12-17.pdf
2. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15393849.Plane_flips_upside_down_after_making_emergency_landing_in_field/
3. http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/15393934.Small_plane_flips_over_after_making_emergency_landing/?ref=arc
4. http://www.flylight.co.uk/skyrangerinformation.html
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gristhorpe

This Best-Off Sky Ranger 912(2) was built in 2003, and was first registered (from new) as G-CCDH on 5 February 2003. Between 5 February 2003 and 2 June 2015, G-CCDH passed through the hands of six successive owners.

After the incident at Gristhorpe on 6 July 2017, the aircraft seems to have been repaired and returned to service, having accumulated a total of 866 flying hours on the airframe as at 29 June 2023

Best Off SkyRanger 912(2) G-CCDH at Sywell, Northamptonshire (ORM/EGBK) 31 August 2014

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
07-Jul-2017 01:53	Geno	Added
07-Jul-2017 02:04	Geno	Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
07-Jul-2017 17:40	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Nature, Source, Narrative]
12-Sep-2017 15:03	Anon.	Updated [Narrative]
24-Sep-2017 00:53	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative]
27-Sep-2017 09:53	Anon.	Updated [Total occupants]
27-Sep-2017 10:05	Anon.	Updated [Damage, Narrative]
15-Dec-2017 20:56	harro	Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport]
18-Dec-2017 22:45	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
18-Dec-2017 22:50	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source, Embed code]
04-Jun-2024 19:16	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, Category]
06-Jun-2024 15:46	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source, Narrative]