What happened
During a flight traveling from Liss toward Popham, a Piper PA 18 was being accompanied by a PA 18 aircraft that remained in communication with Farnborough Radar. While flying over the East Stratton area, the Piper PA 18 suffered an unexpected loss of engine power. In response to the mechanical failure, the pilot performed a precautionary landing.
Although the touchdown itself was successful, a fire broke out after the aircraft had come to a halt. After the pilot shut down the engine and exited the cockpit, they noticed straw burning beneath the tail section of the plane. Efforts to clear the debris and put out the flames failed, causing the fire to spread quickly across the airframe. The situation escalated when the fuel tank exploded, creating a large-scale fire that also impacted the nearby trees and vegetation.
Findings
- The primary event was an engine power loss during the flight phase.
- The cause of the initial engine failure remains undetermined.
- The subsequent intense fire was triggered by burning material on the ground beneath the aircraft's tail.