What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-04-17 involved a MCR-01 VLA, registration G-TOOT, at Weyhill, near Thruxton, Hampshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A rapid deterioration of the cockpit environment, likely caused by an electrical or wiring fault, led to the loss of control and the subsequent fatal spin.

Fatal Spin and Crash of MCR-01 VLA near Thruxton

A private flight involving an MCR-01 VLA ended in a fatal spin and impact near Weyhill, Hampshire, following reports of smoke in the cockpit.

What happened

On 17 April 2010, an MCR-01 VLA, registration G-TOOT, was performing a private flight from Duxford to a landing site near Bournemouth. During the flight, the pilot reported that the cabin was filling with smoke and indicated an intention to divert to Thruxton aerodrome. While navigating the descent, the pilot corrected a minor verbal error from air traffic control regarding the destination. Shortly after, the pilot reported that the engine might need to be shut down.

Following this transmission, the aircraft entered a nose-down spin. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft performing several turns before it struck the ground near Weyhill, Hampshire. The impact was followed by a large, intense fire that destroyed the fuselage and left wing of the aircraft. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained two fatal injuries upon impact.

The investigation

The AAIB examined the wreckage and recovered two GPS units. One unit was destroyed by the post-crash fire, while the second was found detached from the instrument panel. Analysis of the GPS data showed the aircraft began descending approximately 30 seconds after the pilot selected the 7000 squawk code. The investigation also included a post-mortem examination of the occupants, which found no evidence of drugs, alcohol, or incapacitating levels of smoke inhalation.

Investigators examined the engine compartment to determine if a fire had originated there. The engine was found to be operating under power at the time of impact, and there was no evidence of smoke being produced by the engine that would have been visible to witnesses. The investigation also looked into the possibility of the pilot being disoriented by the smoke or choosing to avoid Thruxton due to the high number of spectators present at the airfield during a motorsports event.

Findings

The source of the smoke was likely an electrical or wiring fault located within the cockpit area.
An engine compartment fire was ruled out as the source of the smoke, as such a fire would have likely produced visible soot or external smoke trails.
The GPS signal ceased recording approximately five minutes before the crash, suggesting a developing electrical issue.
The aircraft entered a left-hand spin at low altitude, leading to the fatal impact.