AN investigation into a light aircraft crash at a County Durham airfield has concluded.
The Tecnam P2008-JC was damaged beyond repair when it came down in a rapeseed field alongside Fishburn Airfield, near Sedgefield, on April 19.
The 63-year-old pilot was uninjured in the forced landing.
In a report published this week by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, it stated: “Immediately after take-off, the aircraft suffered a loss of power.”
It continued: “The engine was subsequently inspected by an engineering organisation. The engine turned freely and had not seized, however the fire had damaged several components, including the fuel system, and it was not possible to determine the reason for the loss of power.
A witness, who is an aircraft engineer, described seeing the aircraft lose power as it climbed.
Following the crash he went to the scene and used the aeroplane’s extinguisher to put out a small fire.
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