HAWK, vicinity Bournemouth, UK 2011

HAWK, vicinity Bournemouth, UK 2011

Summary

On 20 August 2011, a RAF Aerobatic Team Hawk failed to complete a formation break to land near Bournemouth and the aircraft flew into the ground, destroying the aircraft and killing the pilot. The subsequent Inquiry concluded that the pilot had become semi conscious as the result of the sudden onset of G-induced impairment characterised as A-LOC. It was found that the manoeuvre as flown was not radically different to usual and that the context for the accident was to be found in a range of organisational failures in risk management.

Description

On 20 August 2011, a RAF Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) BAE Hawk T Mk1 (XX179) manoeuvring for landing at Bournemouth after participating in a nearby display under call sign Red4 failed to complete a high speed low altitude turn in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and lost height before impacting the ground. There was no post crash fire but the aircraft was destroyed by the impact and the pilot fatally injured.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by a Service Inquiry Panel in accordance with a Convening Order issued by the Director General of the Military Aviation Authority and requiring the provision of technical investigation/assistance by the UK Military AAIB (MilAAIB). Available evidence included the validated recording of the Air Data Recorder (ADR), an airborne video recording, limited R/T communications recording, eye witness accounts and, in respect of the context of the event once the key facts had been established, previous relevant experience of manoeuvres in high G flight.

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