Fatal light aircraft crash at Leeds East Airport blamed on faulty autopilot
The Cessna came down last April - killing a passenger in his 70s
A fatal light aircraft crash at Leeds East Airport last year is being blamed on a faulty autopilot - according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
The Cessna came down during takeoff at the former RAF Church Fenton on April 11 last year, seriously injuring a man in his 70s who later died in hospital.
The 79 year old pilot escaped with minor injuries.
A report released by the agency this week found a setting on the autopilot changed from the "Take Off" to "Nose Down", meaning the pilot wasn't able to control the plan.
It briefly became airborne, before bouncing several times off the runway and ending up on its roof.
Investigators found a fault with the autopilot likely let to the settings changing aboard the aircraft without the pilot noticing.
The Civil Aviation Authority has now issued new recommendations to pilots to prevent a similar incident happening again.