Accident Summary
The aircraft was participating in a flying display at Shoreham Airport. During the display, it performed a maneuver with both a vertical and rolling component, at the apex of which it was inverted. Following the subsequent descent, the aircraft did not achieve level flight before it struck the westbound carriageway of the A27. Eleven people on the ground were fatally injured, and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Hawker Hunter T7, registration G-BXFI, manufactured in 1959 (serial no 41H-670815). It was powered by one Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 122 turbojet engine. The flight was a private flight with one crew member and no passengers. The commander held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence, was 51 years old, and had 14,249 hours of flying experience, of which 40 hours were on type. His flying in the last 90 days totaled 115 hours, and in the last 28 days, 53 hours.
Display Organization and Risk Assessment
The 2015 Shoreham Airshow was organized by a company formed for that purpose, which leased the aerodrome from the operator of Brighton City Airport (Shoreham). The organizer contracted a safety consultancy to produce an Event Plan, an Emergency Response Plan, risk assessments for ground operations, and to liaise with emergency services. An Emergency Services Group, comprising local emergency services and the local authority, provided comments on these plans. The Flying Display Director (FDD) booked display items, arranged the Article 162 permission from the CAA, was responsible for flying activity, attended meetings, and conducted a risk assessment for the flying display.
The risk assessment for the flying display listed 10 hazards, including loss of control due to pilot disorientation, aircraft crash outside the airfield boundary, and fast jet collision into the crowd area. Each hazard was evaluated based on probability and severity, and a risk tolerability matrix was applied. The CAA's guidance in CAP 403 and the Purple Guide were referenced for safety management. The investigation continued, and a final report was pending.