A TIRED and overworked pilot may have made the fatal error that sent an RAF jet crashing into a village, an inquest heard yesterday.

Squadron Leader Mike Andrews was regularly seen "cat-knapping" during work in the days leading up to the flight which killed him and his co-pilot.

A colleague told the inquest that he believed extra administration work, along with 12-hour shifts and regular flights, was wholly excessive.

The 38-year-old divorcee died with his navigator, Flight Lieutenant Steve Todd, 28, who was married, when their Hawk trainer jet crashed on the Cumbrian village of Shap, near Penrith, on October 22, 1999.

The plane had been involved in low-flying simulated dog fights with three other jets. As horrified residents looked on, the plane hit a holiday cottage and demolished a bridge.

The inquest, held at Penrith Magistrates' Court, also heard that an RAF board of inquiry following the crash recommended that the Hawk fleet should be fitted with a ground proximity warning system or radio altimeter. The devices can give crews warning of unsafe flight paths and unsafe heights.

But even though the recommendations were made last January, the systems have not been fitted.

Flight Lieutenant Anthony Dalton, who did not attend the inquest because he is serving abroad, explained in a statement why he thought his friend, Sqn Ldr Andrews, was taking on too many duties at work.

He said Sqn Ldr Andrews, who was originally from Hampshire but was living near RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, had taken on many extra administration roles but continued to take part in two sorties a day.

He said: "He felt his exuberant personality would conceal his fatigue."

Ian Morton, coroner for north-east Cumbria, said it would have been difficult for the pilots to gauge they were travelling at least 250ft above ground level at all times.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Morton said: "It appears to have been a truly tragic accident."