What happened
On 28 July 2024, a Cessna 150L, registration G-PPFS, departed Breighton Airfield to perform aerobatic manoeuvres. The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, notified radar control of his intention to fly between 3,000 and 6,000 feet. Cockpit video recordings confirmed the pilot was performing various manoeuvres at altitudes exceeding 5,000 feet.
At approximately 0844 UTC, the pilot initiated a power-off stall which transitioned into a left-hand spin. While descending through 1,30 and transmitting a MAYDAY call, the aircraft remained in a continuous spin. The aircraft struck a field near Thorganby at 0845 UTC with a high rate of descent. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The AAIB examined cockpit video from an action camera and a mobile phone, alongside radar data from Claxby and Great Dun Fell. The recordings revealed that the pilot attempted to recover from the spin after counting three rotations, but the elevator control was not moved sufficiently forward to un-stall the wing. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training records, noting he had recently completed an aerobatic rating course involving 5.3 hours of instruction.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a fully developed left-hand spin following a power-off stall.
- Although the pilot applied right rudder, the elevator control remained too far aft, meaning the wing stayed in a stalled state.
- The pilot appeared to be startled by the lack of recovery, leading to inaccurate control inputs.
- The pilot's spin recovery technique had not yet become a skill-based response that could be applied effectively under the stress of a dynamic situation.
- The occupants were not wearing parachutes, which would have been required by the aircraft's flight manual during aerobatic flight.