History of the Flight
The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, departed on a local private flight under CAVOK conditions with a westerly wind of 12 to 15 kt. The aircraft climbed to 1,200 ft. After performing two medium banked turns and a gentle wingover maneuver, the pilot entered a steep turn to the left. When established in the turn, the engine stopped and the aircraft entered a spin to the left.
Accident Sequence
The pilot recovered from the spin but, due to limited altitude, could only pull out of the dive and carry out a forced landing in an isolated grass area among trees and other obstacles. During the landing, the aircraft struck a ridge and furrow, causing substantial damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and wings. A witness called emergency services, who extricated both occupants. There was no fire.
Injuries and Damage
Both the pilot and passenger suffered serious injuries and were transported to hospital. The commander, aged 39, held a Private Pilot's Licence with 512 hours total flying experience (15 hours on type). The aircraft, a 1930 DH60G Gipsy Moth (serial no. 1253) with a De Havilland Gipsy 1 piston engine, sustained substantial damage to its landing gear, fuselage, and wings.
Engine and Fuel
The aircraft had recently been re-weighed; during that process the fuel tank was drained and refilled with the same fuel. Afterwards, the aircraft flew approximately five hours, with two refuelings at a licensed aerodrome. The engine had been consistently reliable. No reason for the engine failure was identified.
Pilot Comments
The pilot reported that wearing a protective helmet likely avoided a serious head injury. He also noted discussions within the historic aircraft community regarding energy-absorbing foam in seat pans to reduce back injuries in accidents.