A QUICK-THINKING pilot prevented a more serious crash after the engine of his plane cut out abruptly as he was coming into land.

The experienced pilot, 66, was forced to crash land as he tried to ground the light aircraft at Nayland Airfield in Campions Hill.

Fortunately, he escaped with just minor injuries but substantial damage was done to the plane - a Hapi Cygnet SF-2A.

The Air Accident Investigations Branch launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the crash which happened last August.

They found the aircraft had been in storage but was returned to flying condition shortly before it was purchased by the pilot.

A permit to fly renewal investigation had been passed and he had taken on two separate ten minute flights from Thame Airfield before deciding to fly into Nayland which is where it was to be based.

The report, which has just been released, said the aircraft had been refuelled before take off and everything appeared normal until the end of the one hour flight when the pilot approached the runway.

At 140ft above the ground, the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot attempted to restart it, which worked for a few seconds, before it stopped again.

At this stage, the plane dipped below the level of nearby trees and knowing he could not clear them, the pilot turned right, flew beneath powerlines and landed in a hedge to cushion the impact.

Despite a leg injury the pilot got out and saw huge damage to the aircraft including to the wings, landing gear, fuselage and tailplane.

He examined the plane but could find no reason for the engine failure but said it was most likely a misadjustment of the carburettor.

The report concluded the pilot avoided a more serious crash. It said:” The engine failure occurred whilst the aircraft was positioned on the final approach with no viable undershoot available.

“The decision to turn away from the tall trees directly on the final approach path probably reduced the severity of the resulting accident.”