Pilot 'switched hands on controls' before crashing light aircraft on busy A road
A pilot crashed a light aircraft injuring both men on board after confusing his left and right hands, an Air Accident Investigation Branch report has found.
The Grob 109B motorglider aircraft crashed on to a busy A road outside Aston Down airfield in Gloucestershire last summer with the passenger suffering significant spinal injuries that left him in hospital for several days.
The aircraft owner Christopher Tooze, 70, was flying with someone who according to the report had "a significant profile within the gliding world". Mr Tooze allowed him to take the controls.
The AAIB report said "inappropriate control inputs" by the passenger that caused the crash. It read: "The passenger was in the right seat, so for this phase of flight had his right hand on the control column and his left hand on the engine controls."
"The passenger stated that he had no intention of trying to land the aircraft. However, he continued to fly through the turn onto final approach with his right hand on the control column.
"The intent was to make an approach in gliding mode, with engine at idle power and the rate of descent controlled by the airbrakes.
"After the final turn he swapped his left hand to the control column and operated the airbrakes with his right hand. The approach was made at an airspeed of 60-70 kt."
The report states that the passenger was sat in the right back seat and should have had his left hand on the control column and right hand on the airbrake.
"The pilot made no effort to take control from the passenger nor did the passenger say to the pilot 'you have control'," the report states. The report added: "The pilot was able to get out of the aircraft, but the passenger was extracted by ambulance paramedics."
There was no evidence of a technical problem in the Grob, the report confirmed. Although it concluded that "the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair".
At the time of the incident in August last year, emergency services were scrambled to help the stricken pair and drivers who had seen the plane come down in front of them.
An eyewitness said that it "looked like it stalled and nose dived into the main road".
A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said at the time that: "Motorists are advised that road closures are in place while emergency services are in attendance. There were two occupants on board who will be assessed by the ambulance service, and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved."
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Pilot 'switched hands on controls' before crashing light aircraft on busy A road
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