What happened
On 3 November 2002, a Slingsby T67B Firefly, registration G-BLTV, was conducting a training flight near Banbury, Oxfordshire. The flight, intended for a spinning detail as part of a Flying Instructor's course, involved an experienced instructor and a student instructor. After departing Oxford (Kidlington) Aerodrome, the aircraft was observed by witnesses performing a spinning manoeuvre west of Banbury.
During the descent, witnesses noted the engine appeared to stop or sputter, followed by the aircraft entering a spiral. The aircraft continued to descend in a spinning motion until it impacted the ground in a near-vertical attitude. The impact was followed by an intense fire that destroyed much of the aircraft. Both crew members, who were not wearing parachutes, sustained fatal injuries upon impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components. The engine was found to have been at a low power setting or had stopped entirely prior to impact. While the aircraft had been flown earlier that day without issue, the investigation looked into potential control restrictions. Although some control systems were damaged by the fire, the examination of available parts showed no pre-existing mechanical failures.
Radar data indicated the aircraft performed several turns before the spin began. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that while the Certificate of Airworthiness had recently been renewed, some earlier logbooks were unavailable. The investigation also considered the possibility that a loose article, such as a fuel strainer or fire extinguisher, could have caused a temporary control jam, though no such article was recovered from the debris.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a spin during a planned training manoeuvre.
- The aircraft was in the process of recovering from the spin at the time of impact, but insufficient altitude remained to complete the recovery.
- The engine may have stopped during the manoeuvre, potentially acting as a distraction to the crew.
- The lack of parachutes meant the crew had no option to abandon the aircraft once the recovery failed.