1 fatality

Fatal crash of training aircraft near RAF Wittering (J8820)

Wittering AFB, United KingdomFlight

On June 13, 1930, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration J8820) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Wittering AFB, United Kingdom in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during an inverted maneuver. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot was killed when their aircraft crashed near RAF Wittering after losing control during an inverted maneuver while conducting a local training flight.

What happened

The incident occurred during a routine local training exercise in the vicinity of RAF Wittering. The aircraft, piloted by a single individual, was engaged in aerobatic maneuvers when the pilot entered an inverted flight attitude. During this specific phase of the maneuver, the pilot lost control of the airframe. Unable to recover from the unstable condition, the aircraft descended and impacted the ground near the airfield perimeter.

Findings

The loss of control occurred specifically while the aircraft was in an inverted position. As the sole occupant on board, the pilot did not survive the impact. No other persons were present in the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Probable cause

Loss of control during an inverted maneuver