What happened
On 2 October 2005, an MCR-01, registration G-TBEE, was conducting a private flight from Shoreham Airport to Dunkeswell Airfield. After refuelling at Southampton Airport, the pilot flew a route passing near Calshot and Sandbanks. While the aircraft was initially flying at a steady altitude and speed, it later deviated from its intended flight path.
Witnesses observed the aircraft manoeuvring at a low altitude near Lymasting. One observer noted the aircraft pitching up significantly before entering a steep, nose-down descent. The aircraft struck a field near Lymington with a high rate of vertical impact, causing the engine to roll over and the fuel tank to rupture. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained two fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's GPS data, which provided a detailed record of the final moments of the flight. The GPS showed the aircraft's altitude dropping from approximately 1,234 ft to 513 ft in the final 30 seconds before impact. Technical examinations of the Rotax 912 ULS engine and the flight control systems, including the pitch trim and flaperons, revealed no mechanical or structural failures that would have caused the loss of control.
While the investigation considered several scenarios, including engine malfunction, carburettor icing, and medical incapacitation, the technical evidence—such as the position of the cockpit switches—suggested the pilot was likely in control during the initial deviation. The investigation also looked into the possibility of the passenger taking control due to a sudden medical event, though no evidence of such an event was found in the passenger's medical history.
Findings
- The aircraft suffered an aerodynamic stall and subsequent departure from controlled flight.
- The final manoeuvre, involving a pitch-up followed by a steep descent, was consistent with a loss of lift at an altitude that left no opportunity for recovery.
- A partial loss of engine power may have occurred, but this alone was insufficient to cause the accident.
- The aircraft's deviation from the planned route was likely an unplanned event, potentially prompted by a developing situation that necessitated an immediate landing attempt.