What happened
On 8 December 2012, a Jabiru UL aircraft, registration G-VILA, departed from Newton airstrip for a local flight. While the weather at departure was clear, the forecast indicated approaching fog and low cloud. During the flight, the pilot flew at low altitudes, at times descending to approximately 200 ft agl near Boxford.
After flying near Ipswich, the aircraft moved towards Hadleigh. GPS and radar data indicate that the pilot eventually diverted towards Elmsett Airfield. Near Aldham, the aircraft performed a series of maneuvers, including rapid climbs and 180-degree turns, which witnesses described as appearing like aerobatics. The aircraft then entered a cloud layer, after which it descended steeply at a rate of 3,300 ft/min. The aircraft struck a power cable and impacted the ground at a 70-degree nose-down angle, followed by a severe post-crash fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators utilized radar data from Debden, a ground-based radio telephony recorder from Wattisham Airfield, and a GPS unit recovered from the wreckage to reconstruct the flight path. Eyewitness accounts from a local resident and a military pilot provided further context regarding the aircraft's final maneuvers and the deteriorating visibility.
Examination of the wreckage was hampered by intense fire damage. However, investigators identified that the aircraft's right wing and propeller had struck an electricity cable. Analysis of the engine and flight controls showed no evidence of mechanical failure or control restrictions. Meteorological data from the Met Office and the Wattisham automated station confirmed that visibility and cloud bases had dropped significantly from the start of the flight to the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at low altitudes during a period of rapidly deteriorating weather.
- The pilot's visual references were likely lost when the aircraft entered the cloud layer.
- The loss of control in the cloud led to the steep descent and subsequent impact.
- The aircraft's right wing and propeller struck a power cable prior to ground impact.