Hawker Hunter Jet Footage Reveals Shoreham Crash Clues

The jet failed to pull out of a loop stunt before crashing and exploding in a fireball.

An initial report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reported the Hawker Hunter jet “appeared to be responding to the pilot’s control inputs“, just moments before the tragedy.

The 51-year-old pilot is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The jet’s pilot, Andrew Hill, was left fighting for his life and has been moved to a specialist hospital for treatment.

After starting the display, the Hunter was “pitched up into a manoeuvre with both a vertical component and roll to the left, becoming nearly fully inverted at the apex of the manoeuvre at a height of approximately 2,600ft”, the bulletin says. “The aircraft broke into four main pieces, which came to rest close together approximately 243m from the initial ground contact”. The investigation has not yet determined whether this was caused by an attempted ejection or the impact of the crash.

The AAIB’s report also revealed there was no “blackbox” flight recorder on the vintage jet, however, there were two cameras positioned in the cockpit.

The AAIB says it is analysing audio recordings between air traffic control and the pilot as well as video footage taken before and during the crash.

The AAIB’s report confirms that an inspection of the ill-fated 1959 Hawker Hunter carried out the afternoon prior to the airshow found no fault with the aircraft. The other camera was locked between the two seats, giving a partial view of the pilot, instrument panel, cockpit canopy and windscreen.

It revealed: “To date, no abnormal indications have been identified [from the footage]”.

One camera was mounted at the base of the windscreen looking over the nose.

He requested the plane be re-fuelled to its maximum capacity and, says the report, he had been in good spirits and was looking forward to the flight.

Investigators will analyze these images in an attempt to determine the jet’s maneuvers, flight path and speed. Its work is continuing its work, with further investigation to “examine the aircraft and its maintenance records, explore operation of the aircraft, the organisation of the event with regard to public safety, and associated regulatory issues”.

The inquest into their deaths was opened and adjourned at a hearing in Horsham on Wednesday.