From the AAIB report:
Persons on Board: Crew - 1 Passengers - None
Injuries: Crew - 1 (Serious) Passengers - N/A
Nature of Damage: Extensive
Commander’s Licence: Private Pilot’s Licence
Commander’s Age: 75 years
Commander’s Flying Experience: 1,059 hours (of which 584 were on type)
Last 90 days - 7 hours
Last 28 days - 2 hours
Information Source: Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the
pilot
The pilot took off from the farm strip, which he has flown from for 23 years, to prepare for a skills test to revalidate his licence.
I read this today and I can't get my head around it. If his licence only needed re-validated, why would he be sitting a Skills Test rather than a Proficiency Check?
Revalidation
To revalidate the rating you must complete the following:
Pass a proficiency check in a single-engine (single-pilot) aeroplane with an examiner.