A pilot crashed his light aircraft into a field in Norfolk during an emergency landing caused by using unapproved fuel.

The aircraft, a Pioneer 300, had a "normal take-off" from Ludham Airfield and was flying nearby when the engine began to run rough and drop in power.

According to a report from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the pilot had recently refuelled the aircraft with E10 Mogas.

E10 is not approved for Light Aircraft Association aircraft use due to it making "carburettor icing more likely".

The 64-year-old pilot was aware of this warning but believed it was possible to mitigate the effects by mixing it with another fuel, Avgas.

He said in the report that the resulting vapour lock or carburettor icing "may have been factors" in the engine running rough.

When this happened, the pilot turned with the intention of landing back at the airfield, near Martham in east Norfolk.

He adjusted the throttle and applied carburettor heat, neither of which had an effect on the engine.

The pilot soon realised he couldn't maintain enough height to make the return to the airfield.

He decided instead to emergency land the Pioneer in a field that was 30m short of the required runway length.

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Both the pilot and a passenger were uninjured but according to the AAIB report the plane had extensive damage including a twisted wing box as well as damaged engine mounting, propeller, landing gear and left wing.

The crash happened just before 10am on Sunday, June 19 this year. The report by the AAIB has just been published.