That is, or was, a CFM Shadow. There are quite a number of those, and a specialist flying school using them based at Old Sarum, including a charity using one or more Shadows for disabled flying.
The colour scheme is slightly unusual but would match several aeroplanes I've seen down there.
As distressing as these things always are.
The type has a good safety record, although not flawless. There have been a number of engine failures over the years, an issue which got resolved with elevator flutter, and another issue which was also resolved with undercarriage cracking. All of those sound very much like red-herrings however given that the photograph seems to show something that was probably intact prior to hitting the ground at high speed. The cockpit is very good with regards to energy absorption, but clearly wasn't good enough in this instance.
Is there any more information about this? Not sure what you mean by "not flawless" Genghis? As far as I understood this would be the first fatality from an accident involving this type. There are invariably incidents and accidents with every type but no fatalities in a fleet that has been flying since the late 1980's is a pretty good record I think. Knowing the type fairly well, I can't help but wonder what could have possibly happened to cause such a catastrophic incident.
Where did you get the information that it was an APT aircraft? I thought that when I saw the colour scheme but did not want to suggest as much. Something has resulted in a non survivable impact in an aircraft that neither stalls, nor spins.
Genghis could maybe say how many flawless light aircraft/microlights there are in existence?
Probably none, and this isn't the thread to describe the complex history of the Shadow and its various, albeit thankfully non-fatal, problems. But, it has had a number of difficulties over its life.
I've stalled a Shadow although it's very difficult. On my checkride,the instructor demonstrated a stall and sure enough it didn't break away, just sat there sinking at high alpha with about 35kt on the clock. I then tried it and the same thing happened, so I tried it again pulling back quickly from low speed and getting the nose really high; it broke away but very reluctantly. Probably wouldn't do it solo; I weighed about 13.5 stone and the instructor was about the same. I'm certain you couldn't stall it inadvertantly.
