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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/03/shoreham-plane-flew-too-slowly-for-loop-the-loop-disaster-report-says
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| Shoreham plane flew too low for loop the loop, disaster report says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The pilot who crashed at the Shoreham airshow, killing 11 people, may have flown too low and too slowly to complete a loop the loop because he confused the plane he was flying with another he had flown, investigators have concluded. | The pilot who crashed at the Shoreham airshow, killing 11 people, may have flown too low and too slowly to complete a loop the loop because he confused the plane he was flying with another he had flown, investigators have concluded. |
| But the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said that whatever the reason for the plane’s flight path, “no organisation or individual considered all the hazards ... and what could be done to mitigate the risks”. | But the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said that whatever the reason for the plane’s flight path, “no organisation or individual considered all the hazards ... and what could be done to mitigate the risks”. |
| Eleven people died when the jet hit the A27 during a stunt performance at the airshow in West Sussex, on 22 August 2015 – the first time spectators had died at a display since 1952. Thirteen others, including the pilot, were injured after the plan failed to complete its loop the loop. | Eleven people died when the jet hit the A27 during a stunt performance at the airshow in West Sussex, on 22 August 2015 – the first time spectators had died at a display since 1952. Thirteen others, including the pilot, were injured after the plan failed to complete its loop the loop. |
| A report from the AAIB found that while parts of the vintage Hawker Hunter jet were no longer airworthy, no mechanical defects explained why the pilot attempted to loop the loop at such a low altitude or speed. | A report from the AAIB found that while parts of the vintage Hawker Hunter jet were no longer airworthy, no mechanical defects explained why the pilot attempted to loop the loop at such a low altitude or speed. |
| But Julian Firth, principal inspector, said: “If we focus only on the activities of one individual we miss the really important aspects of public protection that should be in place to minimise the effects of an aircraft crashing.” | But Julian Firth, principal inspector, said: “If we focus only on the activities of one individual we miss the really important aspects of public protection that should be in place to minimise the effects of an aircraft crashing.” |
| He said that the “risk assessment was not fit for purpose”, with organisers confused over who had responsibility for different aspects of safety. | He said that the “risk assessment was not fit for purpose”, with organisers confused over who had responsibility for different aspects of safety. |
| The AAIB said the pilot, Andy Hill, 52, an experienced display pilot from Hertfordshire, did not realise that it was either necessary or possible to abort the stunt when he reached the top of the loop at 2,700ft (800 metres). The plane was 800ft below the minimum safe height, when the plane was flying at 105 knots, rather than the 150 knots considered the minimum. | The AAIB said the pilot, Andy Hill, 52, an experienced display pilot from Hertfordshire, did not realise that it was either necessary or possible to abort the stunt when he reached the top of the loop at 2,700ft (800 metres). The plane was 800ft below the minimum safe height, when the plane was flying at 105 knots, rather than the 150 knots considered the minimum. |
| His permit to fly at stunt displays had been renewed while flying on a different but similar vintage plane, a Jet Provost, where a loop the loop could be conducted successfully at the speed and height flown on the day of the crash. | His permit to fly at stunt displays had been renewed while flying on a different but similar vintage plane, a Jet Provost, where a loop the loop could be conducted successfully at the speed and height flown on the day of the crash. |
| Inspectors said that “a possible error path was that the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft”. | Inspectors said that “a possible error path was that the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft”. |
| Investigators found that the pilot had not been trained in escape manoeuvres which should have given him four seconds to start making a safe landing after he reached the apex. | Investigators found that the pilot had not been trained in escape manoeuvres which should have given him four seconds to start making a safe landing after he reached the apex. |
| The Civil Aviation Authority, which licenses displays, had only inspected eight of 281 shows it had licensed the previous year. Inspectors said the CAA did not adequately review the risk assessments for airshows, adding that “there did not appear to be any particular expertise within the CAA” to do so. | The Civil Aviation Authority, which licenses displays, had only inspected eight of 281 shows it had licensed the previous year. Inspectors said the CAA did not adequately review the risk assessments for airshows, adding that “there did not appear to be any particular expertise within the CAA” to do so. |
| The plane, which was flying further east over the road than planned, crashed on to the dual carriageway, destroying several vehicles and bursting into flames. Four main fragments of the plane were found up to 243 metres from where it first hit the ground. | The plane, which was flying further east over the road than planned, crashed on to the dual carriageway, destroying several vehicles and bursting into flames. Four main fragments of the plane were found up to 243 metres from where it first hit the ground. |
| An earlier report had said that footage from cockpit cameras showed “no abnormal indications” with the Hawker in flight, when it “appeared to be responding to the pilot’s control inputs”. | An earlier report had said that footage from cockpit cameras showed “no abnormal indications” with the Hawker in flight, when it “appeared to be responding to the pilot’s control inputs”. |
| Hill survived the crash, but with serious injuries. He was interviewed seven times by the AAIB about his flying experience but has no recollection of the crash. | Hill survived the crash, but with serious injuries. He was interviewed seven times by the AAIB about his flying experience but has no recollection of the crash. |
| Hill is under investigation for possible manslaughter by Sussex police. A coroner’s inquest has been put on hold. | Hill is under investigation for possible manslaughter by Sussex police. A coroner’s inquest has been put on hold. |
| The AAIB said that the government should now conduct a wider inquiry into the safety of airshows around Britain. | The AAIB said that the government should now conduct a wider inquiry into the safety of airshows around Britain. |
| The 18-month AAIB investigation, one of the longest in recent years, has involved dozens of investigators, scrutinising the wreckage of the 1950s Hawker Hunter jet in an AAIB hangar at Farnborough, Hampshire and copious video footage and photographs from spectators at the show as well as two cameras mounted in the cockpit. | The 18-month AAIB investigation, one of the longest in recent years, has involved dozens of investigators, scrutinising the wreckage of the 1950s Hawker Hunter jet in an AAIB hangar at Farnborough, Hampshire and copious video footage and photographs from spectators at the show as well as two cameras mounted in the cockpit. |
| The AAIB published three interim reports during its investigation, recommending tighter safety rules for airshows, including stricter requirements for pilots, crowd control and planning. All Hawker Hunter aircraft were grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority and former military aircraft were banned from performing aerobatics over land. | The AAIB published three interim reports during its investigation, recommending tighter safety rules for airshows, including stricter requirements for pilots, crowd control and planning. All Hawker Hunter aircraft were grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority and former military aircraft were banned from performing aerobatics over land. |
| In Shoreham itself, the airshow will be cancelled again, for the second year running, as a mark of respect for the families of the victims. | In Shoreham itself, the airshow will be cancelled again, for the second year running, as a mark of respect for the families of the victims. |
| The 11 people who died in the crash were Maurice Abrahams, 76, a former police officer and soldier from Brighton; Graham Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes, a retired engineer; Mark Trussler, 54, a window cleaner from Worthing; friends Dylan Archer, 42, an IT consultant from Brighton, and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove, who worked in marketing and web development, both keen cyclists out for a day’s ride; Tony Brightwell, 53, a healthcare manager from Hove; Mark Reeves, 53, a computer-aided design technician from Seaford; Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23 and Worthing United footballers; Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer, who had recently returned to the UK from Australia; and Daniele Polito, 23, from Worthing. | The 11 people who died in the crash were Maurice Abrahams, 76, a former police officer and soldier from Brighton; Graham Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes, a retired engineer; Mark Trussler, 54, a window cleaner from Worthing; friends Dylan Archer, 42, an IT consultant from Brighton, and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove, who worked in marketing and web development, both keen cyclists out for a day’s ride; Tony Brightwell, 53, a healthcare manager from Hove; Mark Reeves, 53, a computer-aided design technician from Seaford; Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23 and Worthing United footballers; Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer, who had recently returned to the UK from Australia; and Daniele Polito, 23, from Worthing. |