What was the cause of the recent Spitfire crash?
A fatal crash involving a replica Spitfire was more likely than not caused by the pilot suffering a medical episode and losing control, an inquest jury has concluded. The aircraft came down in a field beside the A44 near Enstone, Oxfordshire, shortly after 15:00 BST on 22 August 2023. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) stopped using its Merlin-engined Hurricanes and Spitfires following the death of Sqn Ldr Mark Long on 25 May 2024. The pilot was killed when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.Mark Long was a distinguished RAF pilot and, for the last four years, a pilot for BBMF (the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight) Mark was killed in a tragic accident when his Spitfire crashed near RAF Coningsby on Saturday.Spitfire pilot suffered fatal head injuries – Coroner Sqn Ldr Long was flying the Spitfire to take part in a display when the aircraft crashed at RAF Coningsby. It is understood he issued a Mayday call soon after take off and the Spitfire was seen turning just before it plunged toward the ground.
What happened to Mark Long in the Spitfire crash?
Sqn Ldr Long was flying the Spitfire to take part in a display when the aircraft crashed. An inquest heard he died as a result of head and neck injuries. The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) stopped using its Merlin-engined Hurricanes and Spitfires following the death of Sqn Ldr Mark Long on 25 May 2024. The pilot was killed when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.