What happened
On 28 July 2024, a Spitfire Mk 2SB, registration G-ENAA, was involved in a fatal accident during a private takeoff at Enstone Airfield, West Oxfordshire. The flight began with a routine procedure following a crew change, where the pilot had adjusted the cockpit seat to a middle position. During the takeoff roll on Runway 26, the aircraft initially performed as expected, with the tail lifting at approximately 45 kt. However, the aircraft subsequently yawed to the left toward the edge of the paved runway.
As the aircraft approached the edge of the tarmac, it experienced a sharp pitch-up attitude. This rapid rotation was followed by a swift roll to the left. The left wingtip struck the ground at a bank angle of approximately 120°, causing the aircraft to impact the ground and subsequently come to rest inverted. An intense fire broke out in the cockpit and engine bay area immediately following the impact. The pilot sustained one fatality.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation utilized CCTV footage from the airfield control tower and mobile phone video from a witness to reconstruct the flight path. Through photogrammetry and laser scanning, investigators were able to estimate the aircraft's speed, pitch, and roll angles. The investigation also examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, despite significant damage from the impact and fire.
Engine and propeller performance were analyzed via audio signatures, which confirmed the engine was delivering substantial power and reached approximately 4,300 rpm without audible malfunction. The investigation also looked into the pilot's medical condition, noting evidence of coronary artery disease, though the CAA noted that observed control inputs suggested the pilot was not completely incapacitated at the time of the roll.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a stall during a rapid pitch-up maneuver.
- The subsequent left roll and yaw were the result of post-stall autorotation, where the torque from the propeller and the increase in angle of attack on the downward-moving wing exacerbated the roll.
- The aircraft's natural tendency to yaw left during takeoff was not sufficiently corrected, leading the aircraft toward the runway edge.
- There were no technical defects found in the flying control systems that could explain the loss of control.
- The pilot's nose-up trim setting may have contributed to the rapid pitch-up by reducing the force required to initiate the maneuver.