Decades-old debris in Spitfire engine likely caused fatal RAF Coningsby crash, inquiry finds
Inquiry finds debris had sat inside the aircraft's engine for decades before the fatal crash
A Royal Air Force pilot died when the historic Spitfire he was flying crashed near RAF Coningsby, after decades-old debris found inside its engine almost certainly caused the aircraft to lose power, a defence inquiry has found.
Squadron Leader Mark Long was flying Spitfire MK356, part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, when it crashed in a field near the Lincolnshire airbase on 25th May 2024, shortly after taking off for a flypast and display.
A Service Inquiry report into the crash said debris inside the aircraft's carburettor was 'very likely' to have caused fuel starvation, which led to 'a loss of thrust required to maintain powered flight'.
The inquiry panel said chemical analysis showed the debris had been present inside the carburettor's fuel metering unit for decades.
It found conflicting maintenance publications had created ambiguity over how thoroughly the carburettor should have been dismantled, inspected and cleaned, which it said had very likely reduced the chances of the debris being detected.
The report also examined the design of the cockpit and the pilot's restraint system, identifying both as aggravating factors in the severity of the crash.
It said any changes to the aircraft's structure to improve safety would likely require 'significant modifications', which could affect both its historic authenticity and its overall airworthiness.
In total, the inquiry made 26 safety recommendations, including improvements to maintenance record keeping, a review of cockpit protection, and better training for pilots dealing with in-flight emergencies.
The inquiry said the recommendations were 'robust' and should 'minimise the likelihood of a recurrence or similar tragedy'.