An investigation into a fatal plane crash on a farm in Somerset has identified shortcomings in the system in place in the UK to provide emergency support to aircraft in distress.
The incident, which occurred in August of 2021 on Watchford Farm, Somerset, resulted in the deaths of both the 69-year-old pilot and his passenger.
Shortly afterwards, the UK government’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) began an investigation into the plane crash.
As a result of its investigation, the AAIB made seven safety recommendations. Five were made to the Civil Aviation Authority and two were made to the Department for Transport.
Fatal injuries
The AAIB said the pilot found himself stuck above cloud during a cross-country flight under Visual Flight Rules.
The pilot contacted Dunkeswell Radio asking about the weather conditions at the airfield as he felt unable to land at Watchford Farm as he was stuck above cloud.
He contacted the Distress & Diversion Cell for assistance and was transferred to the radar frequency of a nearby airport, at which the cloud base was below the minimum required for the approach offered.
The pilot was not qualified to fly in cloud and lost control of the aircraft during the subsequent descent.
The aircraft was destroyed when it hit a tree and both occupants were fatally injured.
The AAIB said its investigation found that air traffic service providers did not obtain or exchange sufficient information about the aircraft and its pilot to enable adequate assistance to be provided.
It was concluded that there was an “absence of active decision making” by the air traffic service providers and there was uncertainty between units about their respective roles and responsibilities.
