An inquest has heard that a plane crash which killed two young men occurred after the pilot performed an aerobatic manoeuvre. The two-seater Cessna aircraft span out of control at 5,000 feet while flying near Breighton Airfield in July last year.
Details of the Incident
Rookie pilot Matthew Bird, 21, who was 'newly rated for aerobatic flying', crashed into a field at Thorganby near Selby, North Yorkshire, killing himself and 24-year-old Oliver Dawes. The inquest heard that Mr Bird failed to recover the plane from multiple spins.
AAIB Report Findings
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report stated that the plane entered a fully developed spin, but when Mr Bird attempted to recover it, the control column was not pushed far enough forward. The report added: 'The pilot was newly rated for aerobatic flying, and it was likely that the spin recovery technique had not yet become a skill based response that he could apply effectively even when surprised. The accident highlighted how unexpectedly challenging it can be to recover from multiple turn spins.'
Mr Bird had entered the plane into a power-off stall and spin descending 1,300 feet and then made a Mayday call, stating the aircraft was 'uncontrolled'. The AAIB concluded that he intentionally stalled the aircraft but, after three turns, did not unstall the wing.
Pilot's Experience
Mr Bird had qualified for his aerobatic rating after 5.3 hours of flying, against a minimum requirement of five hours.
Tributes to the Victims
In a statement, Mr Bird's family paid tribute, saying they would 'cherish the incredibly special memories he's left with us'. They added: 'We lost our son, a brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. Matthew meant so much to so many. We are utterly heartbroken but he will live on in our hearts as we cherish the incredibly special memories he's left us with.'
Mr Dawes' family said: 'Yesterday, we lost a dearly loved son, cousin, nephew and friend. Oliver will continue to live on in our hearts and memories as the kind, generous, hardworking and fun man he had become. We will miss him every day for the rest of our lives, we are heartbroken.'
Local Reactions
At the time, villagers said the aircraft appeared to have landed relatively in one piece and believed the pilot was trying to carry out a controlled crash landing. Much of the field consisted of rutted soil, which one local described as 'hard as concrete'.
