Second Spitfire replica crash kills man, 71

A 71-year-old man has died in the second crash involving a replica Spitfire in Oxfordshire in a year.

The crash happened at about 14:00 BST on Sunday near Enstone Airfield shortly after take off.

Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance Service also attended the scene. The pilot was the only occupant of the plane, and no one else was injured.

Last year Trevor Bailey, 68, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, died flying a replica Spitfire near Enstone.

Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are looking into the cause of the second crash.

A spokesperson said: “The AAIB has sent a team to Enstone, Oxfordshire, to begin an investigation into an accident involving a light aircraft which occurred on Sunday.

“Our inspectors are on-site gathering evidence and making enquiries.”

A police spokesperson added: “Sadly, the pilot, believed to be a 71-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“His family are being supported by specially trained officers.

“Formal identification and other coronial processes will take place in due course.”

Police asked for any witnesses, or anyone with footage or photographs, to come forward.

The cause of the previous crash remains unclear following an earlier investigation.

A medical cause could not be ruled out, while defects found on the plane were “not considered to be a causal factor”, the AAIB said.

The kit-built plane, completed in 2019, was on a test flight when it entered a spin, hit the ground and burst into flames.

Mr Bailey, an experienced pilot, died before the fire took hold, the AAIB found.