What happened
On 8 November 2009, a modified Taylor Titch, registration G-MISS, was performing a local check flight near White Fen Farm Airstrip. The pilot, who was flying the aircraft for the first time, had been briefed to perform stalling exercises and touch-and-go landings. During the flight, the owner of the aircraft, following in a separate biplane, observed the aircraft climbing to approximately 2,000 ft. The climb appeared less steep than expected, leading to concerns regarding the engine's carburettor heat setting.
Witnesses near the River Nene observed the aircraft enter a steep, descending spiral dive. The aircraft completed several revolutions, maintaining a consistent rate of rotation, before striking the soft mud on a riverbank near Eldernell. The impact caused the destruction of the aircraft and resulted in one fatality.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the structural integrity of the aircraft, the possibility of mechanical failure, and the pilot's medical state. Engineers examined the flying controls and found no evidence of pre-impact disconnection, failure, or foreign objects that could have jammed the mechanisms. The engine was found to be in good condition following a partial disassembly.
An aerodynamic assessment was commissioned to evaluate the aircraft's spin characteristics. Because G-MISS featured a different engine and a larger tail fin than a standard model, its pitch inertia was increased. However, the analysis concluded that the aircraft was not more prone to spinning than a standard version and should have been recoverable from a spin using normal inputs.
Medical experts reviewed the pilot's history, noting a previous cardiac event. While the postmortem identified multiple injuries as the cause of death, the investigation considered the possibility of a sudden medical incapacitation.
Findings
- The aircraft was structurally intact at the time of impact.
- There was no evidence of mechanical failure or control restriction.
- The aircraft's modified engine configuration increased pitch inertia, which could have potentially delayed recovery if aileron inputs were applied incorrectly.
- The pilot may have become incapacitated due to a cardiac event just prior to the accident.