What happened
On 1 August 2003, a Cessna 182T Skylane, registration N666JH, departed Wycombe Air Park for a flight to Rochester. The pilot, who was also the aircraft owner, had recently brought the plane to the airfield for annual maintenance. After departing Runway 24, the aircraft climbed to approximately 200 feet before entering a right-hand turn and disappearing into cloud cover.
While the pilot initially reported favorable weather at his destination, local conditions near the airfield included a low cloud base of 200 to 300 feet. Approximately two minutes after takeoff, the pilot transmitted his position, stating he was passing over the Thames at 2,200 feet. No further communications were received. Radar data from Heathrow later showed the aircraft performing a climbing turn, followed by a period of straight flight, which then transitioned into a tightening right-hand turn and a rapid descent. The aircraft was last tracked at a descent rate exceeding 16,000 feet per minute, roughly 100 metres from the impact site. The aircraft struck woodland near Marlow, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of pre-existing mechanical defects or failures in the flying controls. The engine was found to be operating at full throttle at the moment of impact, and the autopilot system showed no signs of malfunction. Analysis of the wreckage indicated the aircraft was in a steep, right-hand bank and a nose-down pitch when it hit the trees, which tore the right wing from the fuselage.
Pathological examination found no toxicological evidence of drugs or alcohol. However, the investigator noted that the pilot's age and medical history suggested the possibility of medical issues. Flight path reconstruction using radar data and flight simulators suggested that while the pilot might have retained enough control to attempt a recovery, he failed to execute the necessary sequence of reducing power and leveling the wings.
Findings
- The aircraft was in a high-speed spiral dive at the time of impact.
- There were no evidence of structural, engine, or autopilot failure prior to the crash.
- The pilot's partial incapacitation is considered the most likely cause, potentially preventing him from reacting to the developing roll divergence.
- The pilot's failure to reduce throttle during the dive suggests he may not have been fully aware of the severity of the situation.