How time flies by - F4 Crash, Abingdon 88
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Bristol
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Chilling photo on the cover of the accident report, A340YumYum. Is that the cover of the document that appears online (the MAAS report)? Or was there a more detailed report?
Thanks for the replies to my ejection question typerated and KenParry.
There is another thread about this crash on a different site and someone quotes a 'cancel two late lunches' radio call from the navigator. However, having Googled this, it seems this is a long-standing story that pre-dates this crash and has been attributed to several incidents.
Looking at the map of the airfield and the co-ordinates of the crash site, it would have come down 500m to the west of us as we travelled up the Wootton Road. If they were over the airfield for 2 or 3 minutes only (I am guessing) then it really was close.
It's been a real privilege to read other peoples' recollections about this sad event. It really did make a huge impression on me as a young man, and I have never forgotten it.
Thanks for the replies to my ejection question typerated and KenParry.
There is another thread about this crash on a different site and someone quotes a 'cancel two late lunches' radio call from the navigator. However, having Googled this, it seems this is a long-standing story that pre-dates this crash and has been attributed to several incidents.
Looking at the map of the airfield and the co-ordinates of the crash site, it would have come down 500m to the west of us as we travelled up the Wootton Road. If they were over the airfield for 2 or 3 minutes only (I am guessing) then it really was close.
It's been a real privilege to read other peoples' recollections about this sad event. It really did make a huge impression on me as a young man, and I have never forgotten it.
Join Date: Oct 2019
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I have a glossy magazine with photos of the accident, I think it was Hello magazine. Saw the accident from near the airfield fire station and told the civilians I was hosting for the show that it would be cancelled. I drove to the airfield access gate near Cholswell Road and set up a picket point until the crash cordon could be put in place. I felt sorry for the medical staff sent to deal with the aftermath.
We watched the crew practise at Leuchars, while our jets were being turned. The general consensus among us was that the display was gamey to say the least. We were surprised that senior officer approval was subsequently granted. Very sad.
Strong Westerly
How strong the wind was that day has always been a vivid memory for me. Three of us took a Wessex Aldergrove-Valley-Chivenor-(Lyneham or Brize, can't remember without the log book to hand)-Benson. At Valley after the refuel we had 40 kts IAS indicated (safe single-engine speed) before we'd even left the ground.
Near the Cardigan Bay coast, despite routing well upwind of high ground because of the westerlies, we suddenly lost 300' height. The other front-ender and I looked at each other and said simultaneously "did you do that?"
At Chivenor, dropping off kit for our JEngO, it was noticeable that no TWU flying was taking place.
The approach into Benson was challenging, and when we started talking to VAS on landing the incident at nearby Abingdon was the first thing we heard.
Raising a metaphorical glass to all absent friends.
Near the Cardigan Bay coast, despite routing well upwind of high ground because of the westerlies, we suddenly lost 300' height. The other front-ender and I looked at each other and said simultaneously "did you do that?"
At Chivenor, dropping off kit for our JEngO, it was noticeable that no TWU flying was taking place.
The approach into Benson was challenging, and when we started talking to VAS on landing the incident at nearby Abingdon was the first thing we heard.
Raising a metaphorical glass to all absent friends.
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I was a student on ULAS at the time, I’d watched the F16 do its stuff from my car while waiting at the lights to cross the runway then driven to the Mess for the beer call. I was walking from the car park when the F4 practice started & thought he seemed rather low in his loop. From my line of sight he disappeared behind some buildings then there was a big fireball. It was rather shocking to witness as a student pilot & even more so when I discovered that bits of wreckage had taken out the fence line where I’d be parked only a few minutes before.
There's a good video of that West Malling routine on Youtube and probably looks worse now knowing what happened a few weeks later.
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I was just googling this crash and found this. I was 8 when this happened. I'd gone to get some toys from my bedroom and looked out the window just before it crashed. It looked like it was going to do the loop and then it just hit the ground. There was a big explosion type thing come out of the ground and it made enough noise that my mum was like 'what was that'. I ended up getting PTSD from it and getting a huge fear of planes. I used to think they were going to crash on me every time they flew over and I had to have counselling for it. I think about it a lot and always wondered about who the pilots were. From what I remember the other plane had to emergency land on the dual carriageway
