What happened
On 30 September 2013, a Socata TB10 Tobago, registration G-CFME, was performing a private flight from a farm airstrip near Taunton to its home base at Henlow. The pilot, flying solo, departed the airfield at approximately 10:23 hrs. While the initial stages of the flight appeared stable, the aircraft soon encountered a weather front characterized by low cloud, rain, and significantly reduced visibility.
As the aircraft progressed toward the Mendip Hills, it began to deviate from its intended track, performing several turns and orbits. Witnesses near the area observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude, obscured by mist and fog. Near Downside Abbey, the aircraft was seen flying level but extremely low, heading directly toward the Abbey's tower. To avoid a collision with the structure, the pilot executed a sudden, high-power climbing and rolling manoeuvre. This movement, performed at a very low height in near-zero visibility, likely left the pilot unable to recover the aircraft's attitude. Shortly after this manoeuvre, the aircraft struck a tree in a wooded area of the Abbey grounds, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage, recovered GPS data from the pilot's tablet computer, and analysed meteorological reports. Engineering inspections confirmed the Socata TB10 Tobago was structurally sound at the time of impact and the engine was producing power. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight planning, noting that while he used a tablet for navigation, he had not updated meteorological data on the device for several weeks. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's previous flight on 27 September, which had involved an airspace infringement at Luton due to navigation errors.
Findings
- The pilot's assessment of the weather was based on outdated information and a single telephone call regarding Luton Airport, which did not reflect the worsening conditions along the actual flight path.
- The pilot lacked a prepared physical navigation log or an updated aeronautical chart, making him entirely dependent on a tablet computer that was prone to signal blanking.
- The pilot encountered extremely poor low-level weather, including low cloud and reduced visibility, which likely prompted the decision to descend in an attempt to find better conditions.
- The pilot lacked the specific training and experience required to recover the aircraft from an unusual attitude following the high-stress avoidance manoeuvre at such a low altitude.