Date:	Saturday 9 December 2017
Time:	12:33 UTC
Type:	Best Off SkyRanger Nynja 912S
Owner/operator:	Exodus Airsports Ltd
Registration:	G-CGWL
MSN:	BMAA/HB/601
Year of manufacture:	2011
Engine model:	Rotax 912ULS
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Plaistow Farm (Chiswell Green), 2nm SW of St. Albans, Hertfordshire -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	Plaistow Farm (Chiswell Green) airfield, St. Albans, Herfordshire
Destination airport:	Plaistow Farm (Chiswell Green) airfield, St. Albans, Herfordshire
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Best Off Sky Ranger Nynja 912S G-CGWL: Written off (destroyed) 9 December 2017 in a fatal incident at Plaistow Farm (Chiswell Green) Airfield, 2 nautical miles South West of St. Albans, Hertfordshire

A student pilot had completed a successful dual circuit check with his instructor and was departing for a planned solo flight. After takeoff the aircraft was seen to climb steeply to a height of 100-300 ft agl before the left wing dropped. The aircraft then struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. The pilot was fatally injured. It is considered the accident was caused by the aircraft stalling, although a cause for this could not be determined.

Hertfordshire Police said it was called at 12:33 GMT by the ambulance service to reports of the crash. The pilot, in his 50s, was the only person on board, the force added. A spokesman for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue said the light aircraft had reportedly "gone down on take-off". "Two fire engines and a service unit attended and made the aircraft safe," he added.

UPDATE: The official AAIB report was published on 8 November 2018, and the following is an extract from it...

"AAIB investigation to Sky Ranger Nynja 912S, G-CGWL
Stalled on takeoff, Plaistow Farm Airfield, Hertfordshire, 9 December 2017.

The student pilot arrived at Plaistow Farm Airfield on the morning of the accident for a planned flying lesson. He met with his instructor who briefed him for a dual flight conducting circuits to be followed by a short solo general handling flight in the local area if the dual flight was satisfactory. The instructor stated that the brief included discussion of the increased aircraft performance the student would experience when flying solo due to the reduction in aircraft weight.

At approximately 11:45 hrs, the student and instructor took off and completed four circuits, one of which included a practice engine failure. The instructor reported that the student’s flying was good throughout and that the instructor did not need to make any inputs or corrections.

After the final circuit, the aircraft was taxied clear of the runway and the engine left running whilst the instructor re briefed the student for the solo flight, as previously planned. The instructor exited the aircraft and at approximately 12:30 hrs the student taxied to the threshold of Runway 30 and took off.

Five witnesses watched the aircraft at some stage during its takeoff and initial climb. The instructor reported seeing the aircraft appear to rotate normally before he lost sight of it behind some buildings. Others reported seeing the aircraft climb steeply and that at between 100-300 ft agl the left wing dropped and the aircraft turned to the left. The nose then dropped and the aircraft descended towards, and then struck, the ground in a steep nose-down attitude.

None of the witnesses remember any unusual engine noises or hearing the engine stop. They quickly arrived at the accident site to provide help, but the student had been fatally injured in the impact. "

=Damage Sustained to airframe=
Per the AAIB Report "Aircraft Destroyed". As a result, the CAA cancelled the registration G-CGWL and de-registered the airframe on 7 September 2018

Plaistow Farm (Chiswell Green) airfield is located approximately 4 nautical miles East South-East of Hemel Hempstead town centre, and 2.5 nautical miles South West of St Albans town centre. The airfield has two grass Runways: 15/33 (320m approx.) and 12/30 (250m approx.).

1. AAIB Final Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bc7341ae5274a361d74a70e/Skyranger_Nynja_912s_1__G-CGWL_11-18.pdf
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-42292758
3. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5162525/Aircraft-plunges-nose-ground-Hertfordshire.html
4. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5102136/pilot-dead-airplane-crash-hertfordshire-chiswell-green/
5. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/890202/Chiswell-Green-plane-crash-airfield-Hertfordshire-Exodus-latsest-updates
6. https://www.pprune.org/private-flying/602954-chiswell-aircraft-down-9-dec-2017-a.html
7. https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/updates-after-plane-crashes-chiswell-902301
8. https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/air-ambulance-deployed-after-plane-902361
9. https://www.exodusairsports.co.uk/index.php?page=airfield-info
10. https://www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/PlaistowsFarm
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiswell_Green

This Best Off SkyRanger Nynja 912S was built in 2011, and was first UK civil registered (from new) as G-CGWL on 21 February 2011 to Exodus Airsports of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire it one and only owner. the airframe had accumulated a total of 485 flying hours at 9 May 2017.

After the fatal incident at Chiswell Green Airfield on 9 December 2017, per the AAIB Report "Aircraft Destroyed". As a result, the CAA cancelled the registration G-CGWL and de-registered the airframe on 7 September 2018

Fatal accident to Skyranger Nynja 912s(1), Hertfordshire, 9 Dec 17 https://t.co/lmNptGKOTH

— AAIB (@aaibgovuk) November 8, 2018

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
09-Dec-2017 15:18	gerard57	Added
09-Dec-2017 17:53	bloater	Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source]
09-Dec-2017 17:54	harro	Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, Narrative]
09-Dec-2017 19:27	harro	Updated [Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, Narrative]
09-Dec-2017 21:39	Geno	Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Source]
09-Dec-2017 21:54	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
09-Dec-2017 21:55	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Embed code]
22-Dec-2017 12:16	Anon.	Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source]
22-Dec-2017 12:17	harro	Updated [Aircraft type]
18-Oct-2018 17:34	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Source]
09-Nov-2018 13:47	harro	Updated [Time, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ]
09-Nov-2018 13:48	harro	Updated [Embed code]
11-Nov-2018 20:30	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative]
11-Nov-2018 20:30	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Embed code, Narrative]
23-Jun-2024 19:14	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category]