What happened
On 20 March 2018, a Hawk T1 aircraft, registration XX204, crashed on the airfield at RAF Valley during a training mission. The aircraft was being operated by a pilot from the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) and was carrying an engineer in the rear cockpit as supernumerary crew. The flight was intended to include a Practice Engine Failure After Take-off (PEFATO) maneuver before transiting to RAF Scampton.
During the approach, the aircraft entered a stall at a low altitude. While the pilot successfully ejected and sustained a major injury, the engineer in the rear cockpit did not eject and died at the scene. The aircraft suffered significant damage upon impact.
The investigation
The Service Inquiry examined the flight profile, the aircraft's configuration, and the environmental factors present during the incident. Investigators looked into the sequence of events leading from the takeoff clearance to the stall, specifically focusing on the pilot's interaction with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the aircraft's handling characteristics in a landing configuration.
The inquiry also reviewed the training objectives for the sortie, which combined routine continuation training with the familiarization of the supernumerary engineer. Additionally, the investigation assessed the functionality of the aircraft's stall warning capabilities and the effectiveness of the command eject system when carrying passengers.