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Veteran Pilot Dies After Crash Landing Own Self-Built Plane
3 Apr
Summary
- An 82-year-old pilot died of a heart attack after a crash landing.
- The aircraft was a light plane built by the pilot over 50 years ago.
- A seized shock absorber on the landing gear may have caused the accident.
A seasoned pilot, 82-year-old Chris Lodge, tragically passed away from a heart attack after crash-landing an aircraft he constructed over five decades ago. The incident took place on June 17 last year at Nayland Airfield in Suffolk. Mr. Lodge, who had amassed over 1,500 flying hours, was found unresponsive in his self-built Taylor Monoplane after it veered off the runway and nosed over.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch's report indicated that a seized shock absorber on the main right landing gear might have been a contributing factor. This mechanical issue likely caused an imbalance, leading the aircraft to veer left during its landing approach. The aircraft, built by Mr. Lodge as an amateur aviator in 1973, was a single-seater powered by a 1,600CC VW engine.
Mr. Lodge, a well-respected figure in aviation known for crafting wooden propellers, had flown in and out of Nayland Airfield countless times. Despite his familiarity with the airfield, which is noted for its challenging landing strip, the investigation concluded that his fatal heart attack likely occurred after the landing. Emergency services pronounced him deceased at the scene.
