What happened
On 15 January 2010, an aircraft was prepared for an air test at Oxford Airport. The aircraft had been transferred from Germany to the United Kingdom on 11 December 2009. Prior to the accident, the aircraft had undergone minor maintenance in late December 2009 and had been refuelled on 9 January 2010.
During the flight preparations, the pilot requested weather information, noting reports of mist and broken cloud at 200 feet. At 1400 hours, the pilot declared ready for departure from Holding Point C for Runway 19, receiving clearance for a right turn after takeoff with an initial climb to FL80. The takeoff occurred at 1403 hours. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot established contact with Brize Radar to receive a Deconfliction Service.
Radar monitoring by the Brize Norton controller showed the aircraft's altitude increasing to approximately 1,500 feet before steadily declining through 1,300 feet and 900 feet, at which point the secondary radar return vanished. By 1406 hours, controllers at both Oxford and Brize Norton attempted to contact the aircraft, but the pilot did not respond to any radio calls. At 1410 hours, smoke was observed west of the airfield. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft impact a field west of the airport, followed by a severe fire that prevented bystanders from approaching the wreckage. There were 2 fatalities involving the pilot and the passenger.
Findings
- The aircraft was engaged in an air test at the time of the accident.
- Radar data indicated a loss of altitude prior to the disappearance of the radar signal.