Incident Overview
A twin-engine airplane departed London-Gatwick Airport on a VFR flight to Moorsele, carrying two passengers and one pilot. While on final approach to runway 22, the pilot conducted two low passes over the runway.
Sequence of Events
After the second low pass, at a height of approximately 100 metres, the pilot initiated a sharp turn to the left. During this maneuver, the airplane stalled and nosed down. It subsequently crashed 250 metres from the runway threshold and burst into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed, and all three occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by an improper control maneuver. Specifically, while executing a steep turn, the aircraft entered a stall, which was followed by a spin. Due to the low altitude at which the maneuver was performed, normal flight could not be regained.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident is an improper control maneuver leading to a stall and subsequent spin at low altitude, from which recovery was not possible.