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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 | Shoreham plane flew too low for loop the loop, disaster report says |
| (about 2 hours 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”. |
| Families of those killed said the crash was a “disaster waiting to happen and one that could have been avoided” – and that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Shoreham airshow organisers had “much to answer for”. | Families of those killed said the crash was a “disaster waiting to happen and one that could have been avoided” – and that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Shoreham airshow organisers had “much to answer for”. |
| 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 plane 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 plane 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 the risk assessment was not fit for purpose, with organisers confused over who had responsibility for different aspects of safety. | He said 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 “a possible error path was that the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft”. | Inspectors said “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. |
| Representatives of victims’ families said the problems were bigger than pilot error. The parent of Matthew Grimstone, one of the two Worthing United footballers who died in the crash, said: “Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the CAA and the Shoreham airshow organisers have got much to answer for. | Representatives of victims’ families said the problems were bigger than pilot error. The parent of Matthew Grimstone, one of the two Worthing United footballers who died in the crash, said: “Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the CAA and the Shoreham airshow organisers have got much to answer for. |
| “Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the airshow organisers.” | “Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the airshow organisers.” |
| Rebecca Smith, a specialist aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the group said the families “finally have some answers, which is clearly a relief”. | Rebecca Smith, a specialist aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the group said the families “finally have some answers, which is clearly a relief”. |
| But, she added: “The overwhelming concerns which remain are the lack of adequate safety regulations which were in place before the accident together with the failure of the organisers of the airshow to implement existing CAA procedures which were in force at the time. Tragically, it appears that this was a disaster waiting to happen and one that could have been avoided.” | But, she added: “The overwhelming concerns which remain are the lack of adequate safety regulations which were in place before the accident together with the failure of the organisers of the airshow to implement existing CAA procedures which were in force at the time. Tragically, it appears that this was a disaster waiting to happen and one that could have been avoided.” |
| The CAA, 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 CAA, 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. |
| In response, the CAA said the AAIB report “clearly identifies the cause of this accident as the aircraft flying too slowly and not reaching the height necessary”. | In response, the CAA said the AAIB report “clearly identifies the cause of this accident as the aircraft flying too slowly and not reaching the height necessary”. |
| Its chair, Dame Deirdre Hutton, said: “This was the first fatal airshow accident involving members of the public in the UK for over 60 years. It is therefore essential that everyone involved in the delivery and oversight of air displays now plays their part in learning all the lessons that we can. | Its chair, Dame Deirdre Hutton, said: “This was the first fatal airshow accident involving members of the public in the UK for over 60 years. It is therefore essential that everyone involved in the delivery and oversight of air displays now plays their part in learning all the lessons that we can. |
| “The CAA acted immediately following the accident in August 2015, carrying out a comprehensive review of civil airshow safety and implementing a number of safety enhancements for the 2016 season. An independent, external panel of experts oversaw the review to ensure that all UK civil air displays operate at the very highest safety standards.” | “The CAA acted immediately following the accident in August 2015, carrying out a comprehensive review of civil airshow safety and implementing a number of safety enhancements for the 2016 season. An independent, external panel of experts oversaw the review to ensure that all UK civil air displays operate at the very highest safety standards.” |
| She said the CAA had acted on all of the AAIB’s safety recommendations to date. | She said the CAA had acted on all of the AAIB’s safety recommendations to date. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 CAA 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 CAA and former military aircraft were banned from performing aerobatics over land. |
| In Shoreham itself, the airshow will be cancelled for the second year running, as a mark of respect for the families of the victims. | In Shoreham itself, the airshow will be cancelled for the second year running, as a mark of respect for the families of the victims. |