Departure and Initial Flight
The aircraft departed Kidlington at 1133 hours, completing an uneventful takeoff and initial climb to 1,500 feet. Radio contact was established with Brize Norton Controller, who requested the aircraft to climb to 2,000 feet on the Brize Norton QFE of 1005 millibars. The crew complied.
Power Loss and Emergency Actions
At 1140 hours, while at a position 5 nautical miles north-northwest of Brize Norton, the aircraft experienced surging of one, then both engines, culminating in a complete loss of power. The commander advised the controller of an engine problem and initiated a turn southwards toward the airfield. He subsequently declared a Mayday after opening the crossfeed and switching on the two electric fuel pumps, with no effect.
According to the commander, prior to the event he had been on straight feed—right inboard tank feeding the right engine and left inboard tank feeding the left engine—with the crossfeed OFF. During unsuccessful restart attempts, the tank selectors remained as selected, as the commander was aware of the physical presence of fuel in both inboard tanks prior to departure from Cardiff, and uncertain of the contents of the outboards.
The company pilot seated behind the front seats recalled that the right fuel gauge was still reading over FULL, and the left gauge was indicating empty.
Forced Landing and Impact
Deciding that a forced landing short of the airfield was inevitable, the commander lowered the landing gear and warned passengers to tighten their seat belts. At approximately 250 feet above ground level, the mixture levers were pulled back to idle cut-off, and the magneto switches were thought to have been selected to OFF.
The aircraft landed in a field of standing barley. During the landing, the nose gear detached, causing the nose and right wing to strike the ground. The aircraft rotated approximately 180° to the right, and the main landing gear collapsed.
Post-Impact Fire and Evacuation
On impact, the right engine caught fire immediately, followed by the cabin. Fire spread rearwards along the aisle. The two front-seat occupants evacuated via the left main door, and the rear passenger exited through the right overwing exit.
Minor injuries were sustained. The commander was detained in hospital for 24 hours due to burns. The aircraft was destroyed by a severe fire.