A two-seater Jodel D120 plane smashed down in Belhus Woods Country Park on September 7, 2024. The pilot suffered serious injuries but survived the dramatic crash.
‘Mayday’ Call Heard Before Crash
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has released its report revealing the chilling final moments. The pilot took off from Damyns Hall Aerodrome after a morning flight from Farthing Corner in Kent.
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Soon after departing runway 21, the pilot sent a desperate “mayday” radio call, reporting engine trouble. The aircraft plunged into a wooded field about a kilometre from the airfield.
Plane Spiralled Out of Control
Evidence suggests the plane entered a tightening left turn — possibly spinning — before crashing. Starting from 900 feet, it descended rapidly until control was lost.
“With no pilot recall, no data recorders, and no mechanical findings, the cause of the accident cannot be established,” the report states.
