Tri-Service

Shoreham Airshow Disaster: The Facts

There's been much speculation about the causes behind the Shoreham Airshow disaster - from pilot error, a fault with the aircraft, to wider concerns about siting of aerobatic displays.

Here's what we do know...

It's one of the worst air show disasters in recent years, with 11 people having been killed. There have been several crashes and fatalities at events in the UK over recent years, none since 1952 though have seen spectators among those killed.

Air show display routines in the UK all have to be sanctioned by the Civil Aviation Authority whose criteria are among the strictest in the world. Restrictions on displays by vintage jet aircraft have now been imposed with a ban on aerobatic displays meaning they are limited to flypasts.

The subsonic jet aircraft involved, a Hawker Hunter, finished its military service in 1996, although its understood to have first flown 1950's. It was subsequently auctioned off into private hands. It was most recently bought in 2012 by Essex businessman Graham Peacock after being advertised for sale at £65,000.

More from Forces.tv: Ban On Vintage Jet Aerobatic Displays

The pilot, 51-year-old Andy Hill, flew commercially for British Airways and is regarded as a highly-skilled former RAF instructor with more than 12,000 hours of flying experience. He began his career flying Bulldogs on a university air squadron, and after excelling on fast jet training was picked to go straight into instructing on the BAC Jet Provost, a jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the RAF. Andy Hill then operated Harrier GR5 and GR7 jets in Germany.

Since leaving the military Mr Hill has flown Airbus 340 and Boeing 757 and 767 airliners. He's also worked as an aerobatic stunt pilot as part of the flying duo the RV8tors, which perform close formation aerobatic displays at speeds of up to 230mph.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch have already begun work into determining the cause of the crash. The pilot's account will be key to that investigation.

Sections of the plane have been recovered from the A27 and have been sent to Farnborough in Hampshire for full analysis by AAIB investigators. It's understood that the Hawker's seats were found inside the aircraft's fuselage with the pilot not ejecting before impact.

The worst air show disaster in the UK occurred in 1952 when a de Havilland DH.110 prototype jet broke up in the skies above Farnborough. Wreckage, including the aircraft's two engines, slammed into the watching crowd killing 29 spectators and injuring 60. In the wake of the accident the DH.110 was redesigned and entered service with the Royal Navy as the Sea Vixen.