A pilot was seriously injured on Tuesday 13 October when a small single-engine aircraft crashed beyond the end of the runway at a private airfield near Pattaya, Thailand, and struck the boundary wall of a scrap-buying business1. The 32-year-old Thai-German pilot suffered a fractured left upper arm and a large facial wound and was taken to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya1. No other injuries were reported. Thailand's aircraft accident investigators have secured the wreckage and are looking into the cause, which has not been established12.

What happened near Buraphathit Airfield

The crash happened at about 11:30 local time near Buraphathit Airfield, also known as Eastern Airport Pattaya, in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province1. Police from Nong Prue station and rescue workers found the wreckage of a blue and white single-engine, two-seat aircraft against the wall of the business, about 100 metres from the runway; the impact damaged the wall and roof structure, and there was a strong smell of fuel1. The Pattaya News reported that the aircraft came to rest in a field beside a concrete plant, about 100 metres past the end of the runway3.

Reports describe a high-wing aircraft with a front-mounted propeller4 and fixed landing gear2. Its make, model and registration have yet to be confirmed by the relevant authorities, Thai PBS World reported2. The pilot reportedly owned the aircraft1. None of the reports says what kind of flight it was. The pilot's condition after arrival at hospital was not released3.

The owner of the business told reporters he heard what sounded like an aircraft engine cutting out before the plane hit his wall; it narrowly missed the roof of his house, although a broken tree branch damaged the building1.

What witnesses described, and what is not confirmed

A local resident who recorded part of the flight said the aircraft had taken off about two minutes before he saw it circle back to land1. He said the pilot appeared to attempt a landing but then tried to climb again in a go-around, reportedly because the engine lacked sufficient power, and the aircraft then crashed beyond the end of the runway1. Initial reports suggest that an engine malfunction may have caused the crash, but this has not been officially confirmed2. The Thaiger also noted that investigators have not confirmed whether engine trouble contributed5.

An official of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee said a larger investigation team, including aviation engineers, would examine the wreckage and determine the cause, and that investigators would also seek information from the pilot1. When air accident investigators looked into a fatal ultralight crash after a departure from the same airfield in January 2024, investigators said their aim was not to find a culprit but to find the reasons and how such an incident can be prevented6.

What the training guidance says about power problems near the ground

Nothing in the reports establishes why this aircraft came down, and the points below are general training guidance, not an explanation of this crash. The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook, widely used in pilot training, deals with two of the situations the witness described: an engine problem shortly after take-off and a go-around close to the ground.

On engine failure during the initial climb, the handbook says the pilot should lower the nose and establish the proper glide attitude7. It describes continuing straight ahead or making a slight turn as the option that "usually represents the option with the lowest risk", because the landing can be made under control and as slowly as possible7. Turning back after a low-altitude engine failure, "the impossible turn", should only be attempted if the pilot is certain the aircraft can reach the field and has trained and practised the manoeuvre7. The same chapter warns against the "desire to save the airplane", noting that "there are times, however, when a pilot should be more interested in sacrificing the airplane so that the occupants can safely walk away from it"7.

On go-arounds, the handbook calls the go-around "a normal maneuver" and lists mechanical failure among the reasons to discontinue an approach8. It notes that "the most critical go-around is one started when very close to the ground" and that the manoeuvre "becomes dangerous only when delayed unduly or executed improperly"8. A pilot going around "needs to accept the fact that an airplane cannot fly below stall speed, and it cannot climb below minimum power required speed", and should resist any impulse to pitch up if airspeed is insufficient8. The handbook also warns that ground effect gives "borrowed" performance close to the runway, so that "an attempt to climb prematurely may result in the airplane not being able to climb or even maintain altitude at full power"8.

What this means for student pilots

For anyone in training, the practical point is that a go-around depends on the power being there. Engine failure after take-off, simulated forced landings and low go-arounds are core exercises on the way to a first licence, and the handbook's advice is to decide early, keep flying speed and accept damage to the aircraft rather than lose control78. Our earlier report on a DA20 that landed on a highway shoulder after its engine stopped looks at the difference between forced and precautionary landings.

What is not yet known

The aircraft type, its registration, the purpose of the flight and the cause of the crash have not been officially confirmed2. Investigators planned to obtain an account from the pilot5.