What happened
On 14 June 2014, a Cessna 150 aircraft, registration G-YIII, departed from Hucknall Airfield for a private flight. The aircraft was occupied by a pilot and one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft failed to reach its intended circuit height. Witnesses and video footage captured the aircraft flying at a very low altitude, approximately 100 to 200 feet above the ground.
As the aircraft progressed, it began a 360-degree left turn while descending. The flight path ended when the aircraft pitched nose-down and entered a vertical, rotating descent, striking a field near the M1 motorway. The impact was severe, resulting in two fatalities. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage, engine components, and various witness accounts. Analysis of the engine and fuel systems found no evidence of fuel contamination or mechanical defects in the ignition or fuel delivery systems that would have prevented normal operation. While the carburettor heat valve was found in the 'off' or 'cold' position due to impact damage, investigators could not definitively confirm if carburettor icing had occurred during the flight.
Engine performance was assessed by reviewing the aircraft's weight and balance. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying slightly below its maximum takeoff weight and should have been capable of a 500 ft/min climb rate. The investigation also reviewed video from a passing vehicle, which confirmed the aircraft's low altitude and the sharp roll into a rotating descent.
Findings
- The aircraft was unable to maintain sufficient altitude or airspeed, likely due to a partial loss of engine power.
- The cause of the power reduction could not be precisely determined.
- The aircraft entered a stall and an incipient spin at a low altitude, leaving the crew with no opportunity to recover.
- The impact occurred in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude.