Accident Aero L-39C Albatros G-BZVL,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 171847
 
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Date:Sunday 2 June 2002
Time:12:48
Type:Silhouette image of generic L39 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Aero L-39C Albatros
Owner/operator:Rocket Seat Ltd
Registration: G-BZVL
MSN: 730932
Year of manufacture:1977
Engine model:Ivchenko A1-25TL
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:M11 Motorway, near Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire -   United Kingdom
Phase: Landing
Nature:Training
Departure airport:North Weald Airport, Essex (EGSX)
Destination airport:Duxford (QFO/EGSU)
Investigating agency: AAIB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Written off (damaged beyond repair) 2.6.2002 in a landing accident at Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire. Of the two person on board, the passenger was uninjured, but the pilot was killed. According to the following excerpt from the official AAIB report into the accident:

"The two-seat jet trainer landed at Duxford Aerodrome to refuel but during the landing roll, neither pilot was able to apply the wheel brakes and the aircraft did not decelerate normally. Towards the end of the runway, as the aircraft was closing with the M11 motorway which adjoins the aerodrome's eastern boundary, the aircraft was deliberately steered to the right with rudder. It departed the runway and traversed open, level ground. As the aircraft penetrated the aerodrome boundary fence, the student pilot in the front seat ejected. He was killed upon impact with the ground on the far side of the motorway but the instructor, who remained in the aircraft, was unhurt. The aircraft came to rest on the M11 motorway but there were no subsequent collisions with motor vehicles".

Cambridgeshire police named the dead man as Gary Clarke, who is believed to be from Essex. His family later sued the aircraft's owners, and were awarded £246,500 in damages (see link #8). The Air Accidents Investigation Branch inquiry recommended a review of arrangements for aircraft taking off or landing towards the M11. As a result, the CAA and Duxford agreed to a reduction in the runway's 1500 metres declared length, from 1350 metres to 1200 metres, in order to provide a greater margin of error.

Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Severe damage to both wings, landing gear and forward fuselage". As a result, the registration G-BZVL was cancelled by the CAA on 08.01.2003 as "Permanently withdrawn from use"

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: AAIB
Report number: EW/C2002/06/02
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422eff4ed915d13710002a9/dft_avsafety_pdf_022817.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=BZVL
3. https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/55312-c-down-m11-merged-link-aaib-report.html
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2021961.stm
5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/6386381.stm
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_War_Museum_Duxford#Air_shows_and_flying
7. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1396163/Pilot-killed-as-jet-hits-M11.html
8. http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1213148.crash_pilots_family_awarded_250_000/
9. https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/jet-crashes-on-motorway-1-569544
10. http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/jet-crashes-on-to-m11-one-person-dead-1-137287

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
02-Dec-2014 19:56 Dr. John Smith Added
14-May-2016 15:39 TB Updated [Aircraft type, Location]
21-Jul-2016 16:13 Dr.John Smith Updated [Source, Narrative]
21-Jul-2016 16:16 Dr.John Smith Updated [Location]

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