ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 230877
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| Date: | Monday 25 November 2019 |
| Time: | 11:39 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP |
| Owner/operator: | Steptoe And Son Properties Ltd |
| Registration: | G-CBXJ |
| MSN: | 172S-8125 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1999 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-360-L2A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Sea, off Puffin Island, East of Anglesey, near Penmon -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Caernarfon Airport (EGCK) |
| Caernarfon Airport (EGCK) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The 79-year old pilot arrived at Caernarfon Airport at about 09:15 hrs on the day of the accident, having booked that morning to fly G-CBXJ with the flying club based at the airport. He planned to complete a local flight from Caernarfon out to Great Orme, a small peninsula about 24 miles along the coastline to the east, returning via Puffin Island off the north-east coast of Anglesey; a flight of about 30 minutes. The pilot checked the weather and booked out with the flying club before going out to the aircraft at about 09:25 hrs. The engine, however, would not start.
An engineer examined the aircraft and identified the starter motor shear pin had failed. Whilst the engineer worked on the aircraft, the pilot returned to the flying club where he talked to a number of people who described his demeanour as being normal. About an hour later the aircraft had been repaired and the pilot started the engine and taxied for takeoff, departing from runway 07 at 11:15 hrs.
Shortly after becoming airborne the pilot contacted Caernarfon Radio enquiring whether RAF Valley was open. Caernarfon Radio replied that it was and the pilot replied he was changing frequency to RAF Valley. The pilot contacted ATC at RAF Valley at 11:26 hrs explaining he was on “a short trip to the Orme and back” asking for a Basic Service. RAF Valley ATC acknowledged his request.
The aircraft flew up the Menai Straits at about 1,400 ft amsl and passed abeam Bangor at about 11:30 hrs. The aircraft continued to follow the mainland coastline and climbed to 1,500 ft amsl as it turned left towards Great Orme, before turning left again towards Puffin Island.
Personnel at the flying club offices sometimes checked progress of flights using the Flightradar24 app and at about 1205 hrs they looked to check the position of G-CBXJ, but could not see the aircraft on the live feed. They then searched the playback feature on the app which showed the aircraft apparently disappearing in the vicinity of Puffin Island. The flying club staff then asked Caernarfon Radio to put out a call to the pilot, but there was no response. Growing concerned, they phoned RAF Valley ATC which, at 1218 hrs, also tried to contact the pilot. Again, there was no reply and at 1235 hrs RAF Valley notified the Distress and Diversion Centre which initiated overdue action. A search was commenced using lifeboats and a search and rescue helicopter. Debris was found floating in an area north-west of Puffin Island later that afternoon.
Conclusion
It has not been possible to identify a definitive cause of the accident. Whilst only a remote visual examination of the aircraft was possible, there was no indication of structural failure and the flight trial conducted indicated an engine failure had not occurred. The stability of the aircraft and evidence from the flight trial points to the need for an input on the controls, if only slight, to both enter and maintain a descent along a nearly constant track, as well as turning the aircraft left and then right towards the end of the descent. There was no evidence of medical incapacitation of the pilot, however, his recent illness and the fact that causes of incapacitation are not always evident means that this cannot be excluded.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB Final Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f981ff98fa8f543f46fd21a/Cessna_172S_G-CBXJ_12-20.pdf
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-50546127
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-aaib-has-sent-a-team-to-north-wales--3
4. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7723523/Rescue-mission-launched-reports-plane-crash-Anglesey.html
5. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-reports-plane-crash-anglesey-17313135
6. https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9315172 (photo)
7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50764953
8. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anglesey-plane-crash-body-found-17410433
9. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2019/12/12/body-found-in-hunt-for-pilot-after-light-plane-crashes-off-coast/
10. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/body-missing-pilot-found-after-17410563
11. https://www.north-wales.police.uk/news-and-appeals/body-found-in-search-for-missing-pilot
Images:
Figure: AAIB
Media:
Aircraft flew into the sea, Irish Sea near Puffin Island, Anglesey, 25 November 2019.https://t.co/DfmL1aydvk pic.twitter.com/stdM6TAqru
— AAIB (@aaibgovuk) October 29, 2020
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Nov-2019 15:18 | Geno | Added |
| 25-Nov-2019 17:30 | swat | Updated [Aircraft type, Source] |
| 25-Nov-2019 17:34 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Phase, Nature] |
| 25-Nov-2019 17:53 | andrew.nicholls@btop | Updated [Registration, Operator, Source, Photo] |
| 25-Nov-2019 17:54 | harro | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Phase] |
| 25-Nov-2019 17:55 | harro | Updated [Source, Photo] |
| 25-Nov-2019 17:57 | harro | Updated [Departure airport] |
| 25-Nov-2019 19:14 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Nature, Narrative] |
| 25-Nov-2019 19:20 | gerard57 | Updated [Total occupants, Other fatalities, Narrative] |
| 25-Nov-2019 20:23 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 25-Nov-2019 20:28 | RobertMB | Updated [Source, Embed code] |
| 25-Nov-2019 20:31 | RobertMB | Updated [Operator] |
| 01-Dec-2019 18:34 | Scouse23 | Updated [Source] |
| 13-Dec-2019 20:06 | Newforest | Updated [Embed code] |
| 17-Dec-2019 17:16 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Total fatalities, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Dec-2019 17:27 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 17-Dec-2019 17:32 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 17-Dec-2019 17:33 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 17-Dec-2019 17:39 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 29-Oct-2020 20:55 | harro | Updated [Destination airport, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, Photo] |
| 11-Nov-2020 19:41 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report] |
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