Fatal Heathfield Aircraft Crash Likely Due To Cardiac Event, Investigators Say

Thursday, 4 March 2021 15:33

By Charlotte Baker @Ch4rtweets

Partial ground track derived from ADS-B data [image taken from AAIB report]

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has found that a plane crash in East Sussex last August (2020) was likely due to the pilot suffering a cardiac event.

As previously reported by More Radio, the pilot, Richard Warriner, 65, from Burwash, died after the aircraft came down in a field in Heathfield on August 4 2020.

A post-mortem report suggests that incapacitation likely of 'cardiac origin' occurred shortly after takeoff.

Investigators concluded that although engine failure could not be ruled out, this loss of control was probably due to Mr. Warriner suffering a cardiac event.

The AAIB's report claims Richard left his home at around 8.20am, arriving at Bradley's Lawn airstrip at around 8.50am.

The landowner said he chatted with him for around 20 minutes during which the pilot said he intended to fly to Popham Airfield, Hampshire, where his partner had probably already landed.

Mr. Warriner's partner had planned to fly her own aircraft to Popham from another departure airfield, meeting up airborne with the pilot prior to arrival.

On the day of the accident, the pilot texted his girlfriend to say that his departure was delayed, and he would fly direct to Popham and meet her there.

The landowner commented that the pilot did not seem to be in a hurry

Departure logs indicate that Richard would have left at around 9.50am, and the landowner said the takeoff looked and sounded normal.

After turning away he stated that a loud bang was heard, with plumes of black smoke and flames rising up moments later.

Witnesses reported hearing the engine stop and, about 15 seconds later, a large bang followed by a plume of smoke and two further bangs.

It was also reported that the aircraft was seen 'spinning' as it came down.

Emergency services were called at around 10am.

The aircraft had come down in a grass field, around 460m south-west of the airstrip's runway, where an intense fire destroyed most of the plane.