What happened
On 8 July 2016, a Yak-52, registration G-YAKB, was performing aerial work near Dinton, Wiltshire, as part of a flight for a test pilots’ school. The flight involved a commander in the rear seat and a tutor in the front seat. After completing several aerobatic manoeuvres, the engine lost power unexpectedly.
In an attempt to restore power, the crew used the fuel primer, which caused the engine to briefly restart and produce power, but the engine failed again shortly after. As the aircraft descended, the crew identified a wheat field for a forced landing. However, during the approach, a farm strip became visible. The commander likely attempted to redirect the aircraft to land on this strip. This manoeuvre resulted in the aircraft striking the ground at the southern edge of the strip in a steep left bank. The impact caused the fuselage to break up, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.