What happened
On 7 October 2020, a Cessna 185A Skywagon, registration G-BLOS, departed from Pauncefoot Airstrip near Romsey for a private flight to the Isle of Wight. Following a normal takeoff and initial climb, the aircraft's flight path transitioned into a steady descent accompanied by increasing ground speed. The aircraft struck the canopy of a small wooded area approximately 1,000 m from the start of the takeoff run.
As the aircraft descended through the trees, the impact with thicker branches caused the wings to separate from the fuselage. The main wreckage, including the fuselage, came to rest upright in dense bushes. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was found by emergency responders partially outside the aircraft after having fallen from the cockpit.
The investigation
The AAIB conducted a detailed examination of the wreckage and the aircraft's systems. Investigators found the engine, including the propeller and fuel systems, to be in good working order, with no evidence of power loss or mechanical failure. While the tailplane trim jackscrews were found in poor external condition due to aged grease and split boots, they remained functional and did not show signs of a trim runaway.
Flight data recovered from an electronic tablet confirmed that the aircraft initially climbed at a normal rate before the descent began. The investigation also looked into the possibility of the pilot's physical position affecting the controls. Reconstructions demonstrated that while the pilot's seat was correctly positioned, a broken shoulder strap mounting bolt allowed the pilot's upper body to become unrestrained during the impact sequence.
Findings
- The aircraft was within its approved weight and balance limits at the time of departure.
- No mechanical or technical faults were identified in the engine, flight controls, or trim systems that could have caused the descent.
- The pilot likely became incapacitated shortly after takeoff, leaving him unable to respond to the aircraft's changing pitch.
- The descent was likely caused by either an improper trim setting for the climb or involuntary movements of the control column by the pilot.
- The exact medical cause of the incapacitation could not be determined, as medical records and post-accident examinations showed no obvious underlying condition.