Date:	Saturday 8 July 2017
Time:	11:30 UTC
Type:	Comco Ikarus C42 FB80
Owner/operator:	Trustee of: Barton Heritage Flying Group
Registration:	G-CEAK
MSN:	0606-6826
Year of manufacture:	2006
Engine model:	Rotax 912-UL
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Ince Blundell Airfield, Scaffold Lane, Formby, Merseyside -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Manchester/Barton Airport (EGCB)
Destination airport:	Ince Blundell, Formby (X4IN/GB-0269)
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
AAIB investigation to Ikarus C42 FB80, G-CEAK: Damaged due to loss of forward visibility and sink during landing, Ince Blundell Airfield, Scaffold Lane, Formby, Merseyside, 8 July 2017. The incident was the subject of an AAIB Investigation, and the following is the summary from AAIB report:

"The aircraft was flown from Manchester Barton Airfield to Ince Airfield, Merseyside. The pilot was familiar with Ince and made an approach to Runway 29 which is 440 metres in length and 20 metres in width. The final approach is across an open arable field and at the time of the accident it was growing a crop of potatoes.

The pilot noticed that an irrigation sprinkler was operating in the field to the north of the approach path but considered that it was not in the way. When the aircraft was on short final, the windscreen was suddenly sprayed with water, removing the view ahead, and the aircraft sank down short of the runway. The left main wheel caught in the crop and the left-wing support strut detached. The aircraft continued rolling towards Runway 29, across a ditch, whereupon the left landing gear leg detached. The aircraft ran onto the runway surface, before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to either occupant.

The airfield operator reported that the sprinkler system had not previously been used near the airfield. They considered that it did not represent a hazard unless an aircraft was low on the approach.

=Damage Sustained to airframe=
Per the AAIB Report "Damage to left landing gear, left wing strut and underside of elevator skin". Despite the damage. G-CEAK seems to have been repaired and returned to service.

Ince Blundell Airfield is located North West of Ince Blundell village, East of the A565, and approximately 2 nautical miles South East of Formby town centre.

1. AAIB Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/59e9f654ed915d6aaafc2ed9/Ikarus_C42_FB80_G-CEAK_11-17.pdf
2. Liverpool Echo 29 November 2017: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/plane-crash-lands-merseyside-after-13971959 (photo is of G-HBBH not G-CEAK)
3. https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/G-CEAK/898475
4. https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-CEAK.html
5. https://airportguide.com/airport/info/AG5442
6. https://www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/Ince-Blundell
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ince_Blundell

This Comco Ikarus C42 FB80 was built in 2006, and was first UK registered (from new) on 20 July 2006 as G-CEAK to the Barton Heritage Flying Group (the one-and-only-owner to date). There was a nominal re-registration on 5 February 2020, when the nominated trustees of the Flying Group were changed. As at 29 April 2024, G-CEAK had accumulated a total of 2,949 flying hours on the airframe

Manchester Barton (EGCB) Manchester, UK - 4th June 2007

Manchester- Barton Airfield (EGCB) Lancashire, UK - 4th June 2007

The pilot's aircraft suffered extensive damagehttps://t.co/Zxt8ADuBbE

— Liverpool Echo (@LivEchonews) 29 novembre 2017

G-CEAK Barton Heritage Flying Group Ikarus C42 FB80 at Microlight City Airport Manchester (Barton) on 26 October 2016

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
29-Nov-2017 17:20	Iceman 29	Added
29-Nov-2017 19:18	Anon.	Updated [Embed code]
29-Nov-2017 19:19	harro	Updated [Date, Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
24-Feb-2020 16:53	Peter Clarke	Updated [Photo]
01-Apr-2020 12:32	Peter Clarke	Updated [Photo]
28-Sep-2020 07:57	harro	Updated [Source, Accident report]
05-Jun-2024 06:02	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category]
06-Jun-2024 15:46	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source]