ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 55368
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| Date: | Thursday 6 August 1981 |
| Time: | 09:29 LT |
| Type: |  SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 |
| Owner/operator: | 31 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | XX972 |
| MSN: | S.94 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Startforth Park, 2 miles SW of Barnard Castle, County Durham -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Lossiemouth (EGQS) |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Crashed at Startforth Park, two miles south-west of Barnard Castle, County Durham, killing the pilot. Aircraft was taking part in a military exercise (Exercise "Osex 4") and was operating out RAF Lossiemouth (31 Sqn home base at the time was RAF Bruggen, West Germany).
XX972 (DF/31 Sqn RAF) was one of four Jaguar GR.1s that had taken off from RAF Lossiemouth just before 09:00, following the coast before turning inland near Hartlepool, County Durham. At 09:26 XX972 ran into low cloud, losing the previous VMC flight conditions. The crash happened a few minutes later, as XX972 descended from 10.000 feet to begin a practice bombing run
Engine Flame out resulting in loss of height, Collided with high level electric cable, pilot had opportunity to eject but ditched aircraft so as not to collide with my house and others on Startforth Park was the cause of the crash. Pilot later named as Squadron Leader Roger Martin Matthews a hero with a memorial plaque to his self sacrifice in the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle.
Reporting restriction applied, (D-Notice) National security given as reasons for restriction
Incident filmed on Sony SI3000 U LOAD BETA Recorder Sony Video Camera HVC 3000P Video handed to police and RAF.
The official accident investigation report as linked gves the actual reasons that this accident occurred and what caused it. Please refer to it as to what actually happened.
Sources:
1. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1982/1982
2. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1995/nov/28/military-air-crashes
3. http://www.targetlock.org.uk/jaguar/service_uk.html
4. http://www.dtvmovements.co.uk/Archivesmonths/1981/1981%20-%20Sep.pdf
5. http://www.ukserials.com/pdflosses/maas_19810806_xx972.pdf
6. http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/publications/aircraftAccidents/Jaguar.html
7. http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1981.htm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Jan-2009 11:54 | harro | Updated |
| 05-Jul-2011 00:55 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Source, Narrative] |
| 14-Aug-2011 11:04 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 16-Feb-2012 03:36 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Jun-2013 02:19 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Jul-2013 02:50 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Jul-2013 02:55 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 31-Dec-2021 15:45 | EyeWitness | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2024 12:30 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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