What happened
On 8 January 2018, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III, registration G-WAVS, was being flown from Coventry Airport to Gloucester Airport for maintenance purposes. The flight was being conducted by a senior instructor accompanied by a student pilot. Although the instructor had expressed concerns regarding the weather, the flight proceeded.
During the transit, the aircraft encountered deteriorating visibility and cloud cover. Radar data and witness accounts indicate that the aircraft performed several low-level manoeuvres near Evesham before heading towards Bredon Hill. Witnesses in the area described the weather as foggy and observed the aircraft appearing to pull up before it struck trees near the summit of the hill. The impact caused the aircraft to roll and land on its side in a field, resulting in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage, maintenance records, and meteorological data. The investigation established that the aircraft was not equipped for flight in icing conditions, which were forecast for the cloud layer. While the aircraft's maintenance was up to date, it was nearing the end of a maintenance extension period.
Investigators also reviewed the flight planning and the school's operational procedures. It was noted that the crew did not utilize GPS navigation or flight planning software during the flight. The investigation also looked into the school's management structure, noting that routine flight operations were managed by inexperienced personnel without a dedicated duty pilot to oversee daily activities.
Findings
- The aircraft struck trees at the summit of Bredon Hill while flying in conditions of low visibility.
- The crew could not climb to a safe altitude to clear the terrain because the aircraft was not equipped to handle the forecast icing conditions.
- The instructor's decision to continue the flight despite weather concerns and the lack of a qualified supervisor to challenge the decision contributed to the accident.
- The use of training flights for aircraft positioning purposes may have introduced inappropriate operational pressures.
- The timeframe available to avoid obstacles in such low visibility was extremely limited.