Aircraft down - Sth.Oxon

[Sleeve Wing]

BBC News item.

> Two men killed in aircraft crash in Henley

Page last updated at 12:12 GMT, Sunday, 11 July 2010 13:12 UK

Two people have been killed in a light aircraft crash in Oxfordshire.

The bi-plane, carrying two people, came down in a wooded area near a school and golf course near Henley-on-Thames on Saturday afternoon.

Ambulance crews were called to the field in Rotherfield Greys at 1643 BST. The passenger, 32, was declared dead at the scene.

The 40-year-old pilot was taken by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he later died.

The plane came down near the Greys Green golf course.

The two men are believed to be French nationals.

Air Accident Investigation Branch officers are examining the scene. <

Aircraft can be so unforgiving.

Another sad day.

[rich_g85]

Here's the link.

BBC News - Two men killed in aircraft crash in Henley (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxford/10590486.stm)

[Blues&twos]

Surprisingly little information about this accident. Local rag reckons aerobatics being performed.

[rans6andrew]

I wonder what is going on here, two fatal, Tiger Moth accidents, at Henley-on-Thames, in recent times?

I have done nearly all of my flying in that neck of the woods, firstly out of WW, then from Wycombe and more recently from Brimpton. The area seems to be free from difficulties/hazards to aviation.

Rans6...

[bingoboy]

Heard the latest sad event was a Stampe.

[rans6andrew]

I stand corrected, it would appear that the recent one was a Stampe. Sorry.

I can tell them apart when I see them, intact.

Rans6...

[greenteam]

A plane that crashed during an aerobatic stunt killing two men was an accident, a jury has concluded.

Edouard Dupont, 40, and his friend Xavier Franiatte, 31, were attempting to roll their 1946 Belgian bi-plane when it went out of control.
It crashed in a wooded area at Rotherfield Greys, near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court was unable to determine who was flying the bi-plane at the time of the crash.
Helmet camera
A senior air accident inspector told the jury there was no mechanical fault with Mr Dupont's bi-plane when it crashed.
Andrew Blackie, from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: "What we have here is a loss of control during that manoeuvre and a failure to recover from that loss of control."
Mr Dupont and Mr Franiatte were both French and had private pilot licences.
Mr Dupont also had some basic training in aerobatics and could perform loops and rolls.
The jury heard that the pair had taken off from White Waltham airfield in Maidenhead.
The crash in Oxfordshire was recorded on a camera mounted on Mr Dupont's helmet.
The bi-plane could be seen rolling to the right before spinning towards the ground.
'Margin for error'
It was flying at a height of 3,400ft (1,036m) due to restrictions caused by aircraft traffic from Heathrow Airport.
Oxford coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: "That height is rather low in terms of aerobatics."
Referring to the evidence given by another AAIB expert he added: "It was Mr Blackie's evidence that he would rather end a manoeuvre at that height rather than start it. He said it does not leave much margin for error."
The impact killed Mr Franiatte but Mr Dupont was alive and conscious when rescuers arrived at the scene.
He was flown by air ambulance to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but died shortly after arriving

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

"It was Mr Blackie's evidence that he would rather end a manoeuvre at that height rather than start it. He said it does not leave much margin for error."

Another example of the AAIB giving their own opinion rather than just reporting the facts.:rolleyes:

My own opinion of course......:ok:

[Dusty_B]

Chuffer, that's quite unfair I think.

Another example of the AAIB giving their own opinion

I was at an inquest just last week, and the AAIB team did not offer ANY opinion in their evidence/statement. However, when being QUESTIONED, and quite forcebly, the Ops inspector was asked what he, as a pilot might do. Under oath, he wasn't given much room to manouver. He made it very clear to the Jury that it was opinion and that he wasn't happy with giving it!

The press will only report the snippet of a comment to suit their agenda, and when being questioned in an iquest there's bugger-all the witness can do to stop a question being asked... and the reports get whatever they want out of it.