Air crash investigators say a pilot's quick-thinking prevented a far worse outcome when he avoided trees after his plane suffered engine failure.

Peter Glasson, 66, from Hersden, near Canterbury, was landing his Hapi Cygnet at Nayland airfield in Essex on August 1 when he lost power.

He steered away from tall trees, which he would not have been able to pass over, but eventually collided with a hedge, leaving him with minor injuries.

A report published by the Air Accident Investigation Board commends Mr Glasson's presence of mind to steer clear of the worse hazards.

But it has not been able to establish what caused the engine failure of the restored Cygnet, which had recently been returned to the air and completed several uneventful flights.

Mr Glasson, of Arcacia Drive, suffered minor leg injuries in the crash landing, but was able to get himself out of the aircraft, which was seriously damaged.

The AAIB report says: "At approximately 140ft above the ground, as the throttle was advanced, the engine abruptly stopped.

"The pilot attempted to restart the engine, which ran for a few seconds before stopping again as the throttle was advanced.

"The decision to turn away from the tall trees on the final approach path probably reduced the severity of the resulting accident" - Air Accident Investigation Board report

"By this time the aircraft had descended below the level of the trees on the approach and the pilot determined that he could not clear them, nor land in the available area before the trees.

"He turned right, flew beneath a set of power lines and aimed for a low hedge to cushion the impact."

Mr Glasson examined the aircraft after the crash but was unable to determine the exact cause of the engine failure.

He suspected the most likely reason was misadjustment of the carburettor.

The report concluded: "The engine failure occurred while the aircraft was positioned on the final approach with no viable undershoot available.

"The decision to turn away from the tall trees on the final approach path probably reduced the severity of the resulting accident."