Accident Overview
An aircraft returning from Fairoaks, Surrey, to Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon crashed after a series of unusual maneuvers during its approach. The weather at Dunkeswell was overcast with rain, and while the pilot held an IMC rating, there was no published instrument approach procedure at the airfield.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft turned onto the final approach, it began a descent that initially appeared normal. However, it then climbed rapidly, likely entering cloud. The aircraft subsequently stalled, turned left, and descended to just below the clouds. It then climbed steeply again and disappeared into cloud. Shortly after, witnesses observed the aircraft descending out of the cloud in a steep nose-down attitude, consistent with a spin, before striking the ground.
Occupants and Injuries
All four occupants of the aircraft were fatally injured in the crash.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that while positioning for approach, the aircraft suddenly pitched nose-up and entered cloud. This rapid change in attitude would have been disorienting for the pilot, especially in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Although the aircraft was likely still controllable, recovery from this unusual attitude may have been beyond the pilot's capabilities. The aircraft stalled, turned left, and descended steeply out of cloud before climbing rapidly back into cloud. It probably stalled again and entered a spin from which it did not recover.
The investigation could not determine with certainty why the initial rapid climb occurred. However, it was considered possible that the pilot had initiated the preceding descent by overriding the autopilot, which would have caused the autopilot to trim nose-up, increasing the force against the pilot's manual input. Such an out-of-trim condition, combined with entry into cloud, could have contributed to an unintentional and disorienting pitch-up maneuver.