What happened
On 28 August 1998, a Reims Cessna 150L, registration G-BANE, was conducting a private VFR flight in the coastal area of County Down, Northern Ireland. The pilot had departed from Belfast International airport earlier that morning with the intention of flying near Bishops Court. During the flight, witnesses observed the aircraft performing what appeared to be stalling exercises, including brief dives and climbs.
Later, witnesses reported seeing the aircraft in a steep, low-altitude descent. One observer noted the aircraft spiralling downwards, while another saw it in a nose-down dive with wings level before it disappeared behind trees. The aircraft eventually struck a wheat field approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Ardglass. The impact was nearly vertical, and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage, the engine, and the pilot's medical history. The aircraft's flight control surfaces were found to be intact, and the engine showed no mechanical failure that would have caused a loss of power. While water and soil were found in the carburettor bowl, investigators could not definitively prove this caused an engine stoppage, as the fuel filter contained clean fuel.
Analysis of the wreckage indicated the aircraft was in a stalled condition but not spinning at the moment of impact. The throttle was found in the closed position. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent medical status, noting the presence of a prescription antidepressant in the pilot's system, a medication known to potentially cause side effects such as dizziness or impaired coordination.
Findings
- The aircraft's descent path was almost vertical, indicating it was in a stalled condition at impact.
- There was no evidence of mechanical engine failure or structural failure of the control surfaces prior to the crash.
- Meteorological conditions were generally good, though the temperature and humidity levels were such that carburettor icing could have occurred at any power setting.
- The pilot was flying while using a prescription medication that carries warnings regarding the impairment of hazardous tasks.