Aircraft crash in Blandford Forum due to control column failure (G-AAEN)

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was executing a landing approach at Blandford Forum. During this phase of flight, the pilot experienced a sudden mechanical failure when the control column came adrift from its mounting. This loss of structural integrity in the control system rendered the airplane uncontrollable. Consequently, the pilot was unable to maintain stability or guide the aircraft safely onto the runway surface. The plane impacted the ground and sustained damage that was assessed as beyond repair. Despite the severity of the crash, the pilot was successfully extracted from the wreckage and rescued.

Findings

The official investigation identified the detachment of the control column as the primary factor leading to the accident. This mechanical failure directly caused the loss of control upon landing. The sequence of events indicates that once the column separated, the pilot had no means to influence the aircraft's attitude or trajectory, resulting in the subsequent crash.