1996 Barton Aerodrome disaster

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1996 Barton Aerodrome disaster
G-ASKH(RR299) DH.98 Mosquito T.3 Rolls Royce MAN SEP87 (12901446594).jpg
RR299, the Mosquito involved in the accident
Accident
Date21 July 1996 (1996-07-21)
Summary Loss of power leading to loss of control
Site Manchester Barton Aerodrome, Barton-upon-Irwell, Greater Manchester, England
53°28′21″N2°23′28″W / 53.47250°N 2.39111°W / 53.47250; -2.39111
Aircraft
Aircraft type de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito T3
Operator BAE Systems plc
Registration G-ASKH (MSN: RR299 and HJ695 [1] )
Flight origin Manchester Barton Aerodrome, Barton-upon-Irwell, Greater Manchester
Destination Manchester Barton Aerodrome, Barton-upon-Irwell, Greater Manchester
Occupants2
Crew2
Fatalities2
Survivors0

The Barton Aerodrome disaster occurred on 21 July 1996 at the annually held Barton air show [a] in Manchester, England. [3] Nearing the end of its display, the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito piloted by Kevin Moorhouse performed a steep climb into a wingover. The left engine then failed, at which point aircraft control was lost, crashing into woods near Barton Aerodrome. [4] Both pilot in command Moorhouse and engineer Steve Watson were killed. [5] The crash would mark the destruction of the last airworthy Mosquito until The People's Mosquito project, led by John Lilley, who is attempting to return another aircraft to the skies 26 years later.(Currently achieving engine ground runs and taxying checks in 2024). [6]

Contents

Background

Crew

The crew for the DH.98 Mosquito on the day of the disaster was made up of pilot Kevin Moorhouse and engineer Steve Watson. [5] Moorhouse was born in 1945, beginning his aviation career by joining British Aerospace in 1963. He served as flight engineer aboard Nimrod MK 1, before eventually becoming a pilot. [7] By the time of the event, Moorhouse had accumulated over 60 hours of flight time in the Mosquito and over 520 hours on other light aircraft. [4]

Aircraft

The aircraft involved in the crash was a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito T3, with the military number RR299. Originally built in Leavesden, Hertfordshire at the end of the Second World War, it served in the Middle East until 1949, after which it was returned to the United Kingdom. [7] The Mosquito was unique in that the frame was built using hardwoods such as balsa and birch. [8] This was a choice by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland to help preserve precious metals during World War 2. [9] Following a stint in the RAF, it was acquired by British Aerospace (BAe) in 1963. [4] [7]

In 1994 BAe identified a unique quirk in the Mosquito's left engine: a "low fuel pressure" warning light would illuminate when the aircraft experienced less than 1g (g-force). The issue was later traced to an incorrectly wired fuel gauge. The affected carburetor was inspected and reinstalled following the diagnosis. Log entries suggested that the same carburetor had been removed nearly seven years earlier for rig calibration before being reinstalled. Despite these interventions, the zero-g issue persisted and was still present during the Barton Air show on the day of the crash. [4] Reports indicate a history of this aircraft's carburetors being affected by zero-g conditions. [5]

Accident

Despite the acknowledged issues with the left engine and an engine failure at the end of an air show display in Lille, France, three weeks prior, the Mosquito was given clearance to fly at Barton air show on 21 July 1996. No issues were observed with pre-show flight manoeuvres or a needle projection rig checking pressure function of capsules and valves. [4]

Departing Hawarden Airport in Wales at 11:30am, the Mosquito arrived at Barton Aerodrome for the air show just before midday, at which point the routine began. [4] The routine featured a series of non-aerobatic manoeuvres including climbs, descents and level flight not below 100 feet above ground level (agl). [4] The routine was described as being well-rehearsed. [10] After completing another flypast from east to west, the Mosquito climbed higher towards the edge of the airfield at which point, the sound of the engine backfiring could be heard. [b] [4] The Mosquito began to fall in a spiral motion, before subsequent control appeared to have been regained. [5] However, due to the altitude lost, recovery of the aircraft was not possible, leading to a crash in a wooded area located 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west of the aerodrome, next to the M62 motorway. [4] [10] [11] Neither occupant survived. [3] [11] Several video recordings of the accident were taken, later being used as evidence in the investigation that followed. [4] [11]

The Mosquito involved in the crash was the last airworthy aircraft of its type at the time. [12] This remained the case for the next 26 years, until efforts were undertaken to restore a DH.98 Mosquito to flight for historical and educational purposes by The People's Mosquito project. [6] This charity was specifically registered for this purpose. [13]

Investigation

After the crash, the Government of the United Kingdom (HM Government) conducted an AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) Field Investigation into the events of the disaster. Correspondence with British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce Holdings was also obtained on specific issues. [4]

Pilot and engine assessments

The initial investigation did not trace any pre-impact failures involving the aircraft flight control system, despite the flight at Lille only three weeks earlier. This was true for pilot control also, it being concluded that pilot in command Moorhouse was not at fault for the disaster. The Mosquito was put through a series of manoeuvres as the air show expected, including the application of reduced g, to accommodate for the documented issues with the engines at negative g. Moorhouse operated boost lever adjustments correctly, with the only potential error coming from a possible power reduction on the left engine. This was considered unlikely. [4]

Conclusions

The AAIB Field Investigation conducted by HM Government concluded that the accident resulted from a loss of control of the Mosquito, associated with a temporary loss of power from the left engine. Rolls-Royce Holdings confirmed left and right propeller issues, as seen in the video recording of the incident. Requirements relating to the carburetors, fuel flow and adjustable stops were also not met. Simulated recreation attempts of the incident could not be replicated, meaning the conditions of the negative g experienced by the aircraft resulting in the crash were considered to be of an unpredictable nature. [4]

Recommendations were subsequently made to Rolls-Royce, these included communicating with all known operators of Merlin engines and organisations involved in their aircraft maintenance, along with advising on setting up and adjusting carburetors, requirements of the flow rig and interpreting Merlin engine manuals. [4] The Mosquito's civil registration G-ASKH was cancelled on 16 December 1996, 5 months after the disaster. [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ Some message boards refer to the event on this date as 'Midsummer Madness', a smaller event.
    The Barton Air show (Manchester Airshow) reportedly ceased in 1994. [2]
  2. ↑ The sound of the engine failing can be heard in video footage captured of the aircraft during this manoeuvre.

References

  1. ↑ Dunnell, Ben (14 November 2009). "Life With A Legend". Key.Aero. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "Barton Aerodrome 54, Ringway 55". Avro Heritage Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  3. 1 2 Herald and Times Archive (22 July 1996). "Pilot and navigator killed as Mosquito plunges into wood during air display". Herald Scotland. The Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Government of the United Kingdom. "AAIB Field Investigation De Havilland DH98 Mosquito T3, G-ASKH AAIB Bulletin No: 6/97 Ref: EW/C96/7/9Category: 1.1" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. pp. 1–2, 4–8, 12, 14. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Aviation Safety Network. "Sunday 21 July 1996 de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito T Mk III British Aerospace PLC G-ASKH". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 Mountney, Dan (12 July 2022). "Inside the 'impossible' project to return the de Havilland Mosquito to UK skies". Welwyn Hatfield Times. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Soldiers' Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (1994). "Air Display Church Fenton '94 Sunday July 17 RAF Church Fenton Tadcaster North Yorks Official Programme" (PDF). RAF Church Fenton. Soldiers' Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  8. ↑ "The de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito" (PDF). The High Wycombe Society. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  9. ↑ Hendrix, Kris (7 March 2019). "The RAF's 'Wooden Wonder'". Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  10. 1 2 Cusick, James (22 July 1996). "Two die as last Mosquito crashes". Independent. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 Keeling, Neal (22 July 1996). "Jul 22, 1996, page 3 - Manchester Evening News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  12. ↑ Aguiari, Moreno (25 November 2020). "80 Years On, The de Havilland Mosquito Takes Shape Once Again". Vintage Aviation News. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "The People's Mosquito Limited Charity Number: 1165903". Charity Commission For England And Wales. Register of Charities. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito T.III". Aerial Visuals Airplane Dossier. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
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