Never nice to see a fellow flyer going in, but if you'd dipped your tanks first, you would have realised that flying on that mixture was a tad unwise.
My foolproof method (little G-SXTY only being authorised for day VFR) is to leave at least 30 minutes before sunset.
You should all be much safer at the Gatbash - the hotel has nice soft carpets, wheelchair ramps, and a swimming pool they won't let you crash-land in if you're too out of balance . . .