Contaminated Fuel Suspected in Small Plane Crash

A pilot and his passenger were seriously injured when their small plane crashed in a field shortly after departing Wycombe Air Park on July 3rd. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report suggests contaminated fuel may have caused the total loss of engine power. The investigation found that fuel from the same batch used in the crashed aircraft contained a jelly-like substance in the carburettors of other planes operated by the same flying school.

While the exact cause of the engine failure could not be definitively determined, mechanical failure was ruled out. The fuel was assessed to potentially be of lower octane and contaminated, preventing proper ignition. The pilot managed to avoid a stall by attempting a forced landing in a field, though the craft collided with trees. The flying school has since taken safety actions, including purchasing a bowser to supply its aircraft with specified UL91 fuel.