What happened
On the morning of the accident, a Fairey Varsity, registered G-BDFT, departed RAF Syerston for East Midlands Airport. The aircraft, operated by a preservation group, carried thirteen passengers. Following a refueling stop at East Midlands Airport, the crew prepared for a flight to Liverpool Airport to participate in an air display, which included a rendezvous with a Cessna 180 for aerial photography.
During engine start-up, the left engine experienced difficulty and emitted smoke, leading the crew to believe the engine had been over-primed. After takeoff at 09:32, the Fairey Varsity joined the Cessna 180 in formation orbits near Blithfield Reservoir. During these maneuvers, observers noted puffs of smoke and loud bangs from the left engine. The pilot eventually reported issues with the right engine, though the accompanying aircraft observed symptoms suggesting a rich fuel mixture in the left engine.
As the flight progressed, the right engine began to backfire. At 10:05, the pilot contacted air traffic control to request a direct return to East Midlands Airport due to engine difficulties. Shortly after, the pilot reported that the left engine had failed. At an altitude of approximately 400 feet, the crew announced an intention to perform an emergency landing in a nearby field. During the descent, the aircraft's left wing dropped, causing the plane to roll over and impact the ground in an inverted position. The impact severed high-voltage power lines. Among the passengers, three survivors were located in the rear section of the fuselage; however, one individual sustained severe burns while attempting to escape.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was caused by a loss of control during a stall at low altitude while the pilot was attempting an emergency landing. The failure of the left engine was attributed to an excessively rich fuel-air mixture caused by a split diaphragm in the engine-driven fuel pump. While the exact cause for the right engine's power loss remained undetermined, it was suspected to be an ignition failure caused by a breakdown in the ignition coil.