The Vans RV-6A had flown just over an hour, and had been on the ground for about twenty minutes, before it took off from the grass strip at Bagber Farm, Milborne St Andrew, Dorset. The weather was fine. Although pilot and passenger were wearing four-point upper torso restraint, both suffered serious injury in this accident and had no recall of any part of the
The Vans RV-6A had flown just over an hour, and had been on the ground for about twenty minutes, before it took off from the grass strip at Bagber Farm, Milborne St Andrew, Dorset. The weather was fine. Although pilot and passenger were wearing four-point upper torso restraint, both suffered serious injury in this accident and had no recall of any part of the flight.
This report is compiled from the evidence of the farmer who witnessed the event. He could not comment on the sound of the aircraft’s engine because he was in a vehicle with the windows closed, the engine running and the radio on.
The aircraft appeared to accelerate normally and became airborne after about 150 metres. It then turned right. “Initially the turn was executed quite smoothly and then it developed into a more acute turn. This resulted in the aircraft giving the impression that the nose was now pointing to the ground.” The right wingtip struck the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled before coming to rest inverted.
The witness went to the scene. Both occupants were unconscious. He went to a phone, then returned to find the pilot had regained consciousness. He cut his harness to make him more comfortable, then dragged the passenger clear of the wreckage and placed her in the recovery position. He treated the pilot’s head wound and helped him get free from the wreckage. He also switched off the aircraft’s electrical system. The air ambulance arrived at about this time.
The pilot thought that the engine may have stopped or been at low power on impact because there was very little damage to the propeller.
