My sincere condolences to all those involved
No Surrender
The licensing criteria for RESAs (Runway End Safety Areas) changed recently following an amendment to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. RESA's are designed to protect aircraft overunning or undershooting runways. The minimum length of a RESA for a runway of the dimensions of Duxford's would currently be 90m but this would increase to 240m following the change. Where physical constraints, e.g. the proximity of a major road, preclude compliance with the new requirements, one option would be to reduce the Declared Distances available. This may mean, and without knowing any specific details I can only speculate, that the revised distances would be outside the performance envelope of the L39. The link below refers:
http://www.caa.co.uk/publications/do...aerodromes.pdf
Although this 'paperwork exercise' may not have saved the life of the individual concerned in this tragic accident, I post it to show that the 'Authorities' can, and do 'Act' when there are benefits to flight safety. I, too, found your post insensitive
Edited to state that these changes DO NOT come into effect until 2004