Overview
- A post-mortem found the 82-year-old pilot died of a heart attack, and emergency crews confirmed he was dead at the scene at Nayland Airfield.
- The Air Accidents Investigation Branch reported the right main landing-gear shock absorber was seized and 8.24mm out-of-true, which likely pushed the aircraft left on touchdown.
- Investigators said the plane ran about 30 meters through long grass to the left of the strip and then nosed over, with a broken canopy and a fuel leak matching that sequence.
- The flight departed Retreat Farm, also known as Little Baddow Airfield in Essex, and tracked at roughly 200 feet on a route the experienced pilot had flown many times.
- The vintage Taylor Monoplane, registration G-AYSH, used a 1600cc Volkswagen engine common in Beetles, reflecting the simple, homebuilt design often seen in small-field flying.