Aero Designs PULSAR accident near Heapham, Gb, August 31, 2018
On August 31, 2018 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Aero Designs PULSAR, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered GLUED, was involved in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Heapham (Sturgate Airfield). It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2018 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Heapham, United Kingdom · Sturgate Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Designs PULSAR Undesignat, amateur-built
- Registration
- GLUED · no longer on the register · serial PFA 202-12122
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 31, 2018, about 1700 coordinated universal time (UTC), an amateur-built Aero Designs Pulsar 1 airplane, United Kingdom registration G-LUED, serial number PFA 202-12122, was substantially damaged when it nosed-over after it overran the runway while landing at Sturgate Airfield (EGCS) near Heapham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. The pilot and passenger were not injured.The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom government. Further information may be obtained from: Department for Transport Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) Farnborough House Berkshire Copse Road Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2HH, United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 1252 510300 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 376999 E-mail: investigations@aaib.gov.uk Webpage: http://www.aaib.gov.uk This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 899 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: EGCS Heapham
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.