What happened
On 15 January 2010, a Piper PA-31P Pressurised Navajo, registration N95RS, departed Oxford Airport for a planned air test. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, was intended to reach a level of FL190. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft established contact with Brize Radar, but its flight path soon became erratic, following an approximate figure-of-eight pattern.
Radar data and witness accounts indicate that the aircraft's altitude fluctuated significantly before the plane entered a steep descent. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a high power setting and noted that the engine noise sounded unusual. The aircraft eventually struck a snow-covered field near Bladon in a nose-down, right-wing-low attitude. A severe post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft, and both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined radar tracks, radio communications, and the wreckage of the aircraft. While the aircraft was heavily damaged by fire, examinations of the engines and flight controls showed no evidence of mechanical failure or pre-impact technical issues. The fuel was found to be within specification.
Medical examinations of the occupants were central to the investigation. The autopsy of the pilot revealed severe coronary artery disease, which presented a risk of sudden collapse or arrhythmia. The passenger, a qualified private pilot, lacked the necessary experience with this specific aircraft type or the ability to fly in the prevailing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) to manage the emergency.
Findings
- The aircraft's flight path deviated from the assigned clearance, suggesting the pilot was either unaware of the deviation or unable to communicate it.
- The erratic descent and flight pattern were likely caused by pilot disorientation resulting from an attempt to fly while incapacitated, or an attempt by the passenger to take control.
- The passenger was likely preoccupied with the pilot's condition, leaving him unable to manage radio communications or effectively fly the aircraft in low-visibility conditions.
- Medical evidence strongly suggests the pilot may have become incapacitated due to severe coronary artery disease prior to the collision.