What happened
On 3 October 2015, a Beech B200 Super King Air, registration G-BYCP, departed Stapleford Aerodrome for a non-commercial flight to RAF Brize Norton. The flight was intended to pick up passengers, with the pilot and one additional crew member on board. Due to fog and low cloud, the departure was delayed until visibility improved.
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing through approximately 750 ft amsl, the aircraft began a right-hand turn. The aircraft continued to climb until reaching an altitude of roughly 875 ft amsl, at which point it entered a rapid descent. Radar data indicated the descent rate accelerated to over 7,000 ft/min. The aircraft subsequently struck a line of trees approximately 1.8 nm southwest of the aerodrome. The impact caused the aircraft to break up, and a post-impact fire occurred. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage, which was distributed along a 300 m trail. Investigation of the engines and propellers showed no evidence of mechanical failure prior to impact; both engines were likely producing significant power at the time of the crash. While investigators noted a discrepancy in the position of the left inboard flap, they concluded the aircraft would have remained controllable even with such an asymmetry.
Because the aircraft was not equipped with a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) or Flight Data Recorder (FDR), investigators could not definitively determine the events inside the cockpit. However, radar and witness accounts provided a clear picture of the flight path and the aircraft's final attitude. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not fitted with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS).
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of control while operating in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
- On the balance of probabilities, it is likely that the pilot suffered medical incapacitation, and the second crew member was unable to recover the aircraft given the limited altitude available.
- The lack of a certified TAWS meant there were no automated aural alerts to warn the crew of the impending terrain impact.