What happened
On 20 August 2014, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration G-BNDE, was involved in a fatal accident near Padbury, Buckinghamshire. The aircraft, operated as a private flight, had been flying a series of local legs, including visits to Turweston and White Waltham. Following a period of flying in a circular pattern south of Buckingham, the aircraft entered a descending spin.
Shortly before the impact, the pilot attempted to contact a relative via telephone, which failed to connect. Approximately 25 seconds later, an SMS message was sent from the aircraft stating that control had been lost and the plane was going down. At 1834 hrs, the pilot broadcast a MAYDAY call, reporting that the aircraft had entered a spin. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft in a rapid, descending spiral. The aircraft struck the ground in a left-hand spin, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.