Pilot killed in crash 'may have had medical episode'

A pilot who died in a plane crash may have experienced a "medical incapacitation", an investigation has concluded.

The light aircraft, a Eurofox 912(S), crashed in fields east of Darlton Airfield, near Retford in Nottinghamshire, on 26 July 2023.

Following a successful tow and release of a glider at 3,000ft (914m), the plane began a descent to return to the airfield before the crash, an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AIIB) report confirmed.

The report, published on Thursday, said there was no evidence of a technical malfunction.

The investigation was led by the AAIB, which looks at serious aircraft incidents in the UK.

In its report, the authority said the plane's descent appeared normal initially.

However, passing through 1,000ft (300m), the aircraft entered a left turn away from the final approach path for the airfield.

The aircraft remained in a descending left turn until the crash, the report found.

Although the post-mortem examination report did not indicate a medical event had occurred, the investigation concluded the pilot may have experienced a "partial or full medical incapacitation which rendered him incapable of controlling the aircraft".

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