Background
The aircraft involved was a Slingsby T67B Firefly, registration G-BLTV, powered by a single Lycoming O-235-N2A piston engine. It was manufactured in 1985 and was being used for training. The commander held a Commercial Pilot's Licence with a Flying Instructor Rating and had 1,600 hours total flying experience, including approximately 200 hours on type. The other occupant was a student instructor training to become a flying instructor; he had no prior experience in the Slingsby T67.
History of the Flight
On 3 November 2002, the two pilots briefed for a spinning detail as part of a Flying Instructor's course at Oxford (Kidlington) Aerodrome. Prior to the accident flight, G-BLTV had been flown twice by other pilots earlier that morning, including aerobatic manoeuvres, and was reported serviceable. The aircraft had approximately 16.6 gallons of fuel after refuelling.
At 1328 UTC, the crew departed from Runway 19. At 1332 UTC, they reported leaving the zone and requested a Flight Information Service; no further transmissions were heard. Witnesses observed the aircraft descending in a spinning manoeuvre west of Banbury. One witness reported the engine spluttered then stopped, after which the aircraft entered a spiral descent. Another witness heard sounds as if an attempt was made to restart the engine. The aircraft continued spinning until it disappeared from view. The fire service was alerted at 1353 UTC and arrived to find the wreckage smouldering.
Accident Scene
The aircraft impacted a harvested field near Banbury in a near-horizontal attitude with little forward speed, indicating a near-vertical descent. There was no evidence of rotation at impact. The fuel tank ruptured and ignited, causing an intense fire. Neither pilot was wearing a parachute; both were fatally injured on impact.
Aircraft Information
The Slingsby T67B Firefly is a low-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear, primarily constructed of glass reinforced plastic. It accommodates two people seated abreast. The aircraft was not fitted with an inverted fuel or oil system. The flying controls are conventional, with interconnected control columns and cable-operated rudder and elevator trim.
Investigation
The AAIB conducted a field investigation. The synopsis noted that the aircraft descended in a spinning manoeuvre, impacted the ground in an erect attitude at a high vertical rate of descent with almost no rotational movement, and that an intense fire started after impact.