Tragic pilot with 'great laugh' died crashing plane built with misaligned fin

23 June 2024 , 17:44

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Trevor Bailey, 68, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was pronounced dead at the scene

A replica Spitfire crashed killing its pilot during stall manoeuvres because it had been built with a misaligned fin and rudder, a report revealed.

Trevor Bailey, 68, died when the plane crashed near Enstone, Oxon, in August last year. An Air Accident Investigation Branch report said the incident happened during the 20th test flight towards obtaining a Permit to Fly, the aircraft went out of control and burst into flames on the ground.

The report stated: "The flight was testing the effects of leading edge stall strips as part of the Light Aircraft Association approved test programme. The pilot was fatally injured when the aircraft struck the ground." The plane was at between 3,000ft to 4,000 ft when witnesses saw it undergoing a series of stall manoeuvres, during the third one the right wing was seen to drop and it entered a spin.

The kit built Spitfire Mk 26B plane crashed in a field 100 metres from a road opposite houses. The AAIB said married father of four Mr Bailey, from Cheltenham, Gloucs, had an aerobatic rating and had suitable competence and experience. He died from head injuries and was killed before the fire started.

He was the only person onboard the plane when it went down last August (AAIB)

A pathologist heard the pilot had previously suffered a heart attack and it was possible he could have been incapacitated but that could not be confirmed at post mortem. The AAIB concluded the misalignment of the fin and rudder made it more likely of a wing drop at the stall but the pilot had enough height to recover from the spin or dive.

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The wife of the pilot paid tribute to him following his death. Kate Dove, said: "He lost his life following his passion." In the post on Facebook, Ms Dove said "It is with the heaviest heart I need to let you all know that Trev is no longer with us. He was the best husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother in law, uncle and loved by so many wonderful friends the world over. We are all devastated."

Enstone Flying Club skipper Paul Fowler described Mr Bailey as a "great pilot and friend". He said: "Our Trevor was an amazing guy, great laugh and a brilliant smile that would light up a room. He was a good pilot, a great aerobatic pilot, formation pilot, he's going to be really missed in the aviation community by all of us, but most by his friends and family."

Nick Irving