Hawker Hunter crash at Shoreham

[Angry Turnip]

Seems like an awfully long time putting this together-obviously they have to get this right,but no more so than any other accident.

[jasT1981]

From what I have heard a former Hunter pilot say, though it was a few months back,  the AAIB have found nothing that will prevent the banning order on Hunters flying from being lifted when the report comes out. So it may well be put down to pilot error and not an aircraft issue.

[Angry Turnip]

I think that pilot error was what most people thought,even very early on it seemded like the most likely cause.
He started his loop manoeuvre too low,didn`t get the required altitude to safely complete it,and the aircraft was doomed to crash.

I wouldn`t be so sure the CAA will lift all the restrictions-I get the feeling there are elements in the CAA that would rather not have ex-mil jets flying in the UK,especially in civvie hands.

[Merlin]

I think that pilot error was what most people thought,even very early on it seemded like the most likely cause.
He started his loop manoeuvre too low,didn`t get the required altitude to safely complete it,and the aircraft was doomed to crash.


I wouldn`t be so sure the CAA will lift all the restrictions-I get the feeling there are elements in the CAA that would rather not have ex-mil jets flying in the UK,especially in civvie hands.

The CAA won't admit that they were partially to blame for the crash in that they failed to provide proper oversight of civilian air displays. Then instead of addressing the problems their solution was to price air-shows out of existence 

[jasT1981]

Final report is out, according to a brief headline on BBC - Pilot error and insufficient planning to protect the public by all parties lead to the crash. Looks like the pilot was too low, and too slow going into the start of the loop.

(Next bit taken from UKAR post - not my own)

The investigation identified the following causal factors in the accident:

•The aircraft did not achieve sufficient height at the apex of the accident manoeuvre to complete it before impacting the ground because the combination of low entry speed and low engine thrust in the upward half of the manoeuvre was insufficient.

•An escape manoeuvre was not carried out, despite the aircraft not achieving the required minimum apex height.

The following contributory factors were identified:

•The pilot either did not perceive that an escape manoeuvre was necessary, or did not realise that one was possible at the speed achieved at the apex of the manoeuvre.


•The pilot had not received formal training to escape from the accident manoeuvre in a Hunter and had not had his competence to do so assessed.


•The pilot had not practised the technique for escaping from the accident manoeuvre in a Hunter, and did not know the minimum speed from which an escape manoeuvre could be carried out successfully.


•A change of ground track during the manoeuvre positioned the aircraft further east than planned producing an exit track along the A27 dual carriageway.


•The manoeuvre took place above an area occupied by the public over which the organisers of the flying display had no control.


•The severity of the outcome was due to the absence of provisions to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the organisers of the flying display.

[Merlin]

If you were reading about this for the first time and didn't know the backstory you'd be forgiven for thinking the pilot was a total amateur 

[smudge]

The last three points of the 'contributory factors' shouldn't be in that section, in my opinion; they didn't contribute to the accident occurring.  The fact that the aircraft was over the A27 was orthogonal to the crash i.e. it would have hit the ground anyway.

Seems to me they've been included in that section so that they can be 'addressed' by upcoming regulations.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Seems to me they've been included in that section so that they can be 'addressed' by upcoming regulations.

That's not in question. I would expect existing restrictions to remain if not, in fact, be broadened.

[breney]

Better watching an airshow on youtube from now on I suspect. The Outer Hebrides will really enjoy the show at Portrush mind you.