History of the Flight
The pilot and passenger departed Weston Aerodrome at 1113 hrs on 4 September 2005, intending to return to Cardiff Airport after a weekend trip to Kilkenny, Ireland. The pilot filed a flight plan at 0958 hrs for a VFR route south from Weston along the east coast of Ireland to Wexford, then across St George's Channel to Strumble Head, and via Carmarthen to Cardiff. The flight was expected to take 2 hours with 4 hours endurance.
At 1146 hrs, the pilot contacted London Area Control Centre (LACC) and was asked to standby. At 1148 hrs, he reported his aircraft type, persons on board, route, and position east of Wexford at 3,800 ft. At 1201 hrs, he confirmed crossing the FIR boundary. LACC provided a Flight Information Service.
At 1218 hrs, LACC asked for the ETA at Cardiff. The pilot first replied "Thirteen decimal two zero zulu" but later corrected to "fourteen decimal two zero." This was the last radio contact. LACC attempted to call at 1229 hrs with no reply.
Search and Rescue Operation
Cardiff ATC began preliminary overdue actions at 1343 hrs, 30 minutes after the flight plan's ETA of 1313 hrs. At 1350 hrs, the LACC Supervisor was informed. At 1358 hrs, the Distress and Diversion cell was notified. Full overdue action commenced at 1413 hrs. Three rescue helicopters and a Nimrod aircraft searched. Lifeboats launched at 1600 hrs, initially to the FIR boundary. After radar analysis, the search area was moved north of Strumble Head. At 2215 hrs, 11 nm north of Strumble Head, lifeboat crews found wreckage, two bodies, and a life jacket, confirmed as G-EMAZ. Bird feathers were among the debris.
Radar Information
Secondary radar data from Mount Gabriel and Burrington showed G-EMAZ coasted out at 1143 hrs. Radar contact was intermittent. From 1204 to 1214 hrs, the aircraft flew at about 3,500 ft with 80 kt ground speed. At 1214 hrs, it descended to 3,200 ft, speed increased to 100 kt. At 1220 hrs, a rapid descent began, speed initially increasing to 120 kt then decreasing. The aircraft's track was relatively straight until 1217 hrs, when it turned left to 052°, then right to 091°, then became erratic with large heading changes. At 1219:35 hrs, a right turn of 140° over 40 seconds preceded a rapid descent with a further 150° right turn. Radar contact was lost at 1220:47 hrs, 5 nm north-west of Strumble Head at 2,200 ft.
Weather
A Met Office aftercast indicated a low-pressure area south-west of Ireland with a light, unstable southerly flow. Cloud was broken or overcast stratus with base 1,000 ft amsl, surface visibility 3,000–4,000 m in mist or haze, continuous cloud to 3,000 ft, and layered cloud above. Showers were likely. Surface wind from 130° at 12–15 kt gusting 25 kt; wind at 4,000 ft from 160° at 10–15 kt. Mean sea level pressure 1016 mb. Weather radar showed a line of showers from Strumble Head to Wexford. Another pilot in the area reported marginal VFR conditions with cloud base 1,500 ft and top of first layer 3,000 ft.
Pilot Details and Flying Experience
The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence issued 4 August 2004, with approximately 150 hours total (45 on type). His logbook was not recovered. He trained on PA-38 and PA-28 aircraft. His flying instructor assessed him as a consistently solid, average student. The pilot purchased G-EMAZ in April/May 2005. The passenger had no pilot training.
Medical Information
The pilot held a current JAA Class II medical certificate with a daytime-only limitation due to color blindness and a requirement for near vision lenses. Post-mortem toxicology tests found no evidence of incapacitation.
Engineering
Wreckage recovered by the Fishguard lifeboat was identified as G-EMAZ. The aircraft was destroyed.