Date:	Wednesday 13 November 2024
Time:	12:22 LT
Type:	Van's RV-8
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	G-RVAR
MSN:	83122
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Location:	Rhigos Airfield, near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Glamorgan -   United Kingdom
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Rhigos Airfield, near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Glamorgan
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
A Van's RV-8 crashed on 13 November 2024 near Rhigos Airfield, near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Glamorgan, and flipped upside down. The pilot was injured and taken to hospital and the aircraft received substantial damage.

A photo shared by SWFRS (South Wales Fire & Rescue Service) shows the light aircraft upside-down on the mountain. Crews and specialist equipment from Hirwaun, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare were called to assist and they successfully rescued the pilot, who had no life-threatening injuries. A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:

"SWFRS received a call at approximately 12.22pm on November 13 to reports of a light aircraft crash at Vale of Neath Gliding Club, Rhigos. Crews, appliances, and specialist equipment from Hirwaun, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare attended the scene and rescued the pilot with no life-threating injuries. A stop message was received at approximately 13.10pm."

The same aircraft had previously been involved in an incident, also at Rhihos Airfield on 26 November 2020 (see AAIB Report and separate ASN entry)

1. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/plane-crashes-on-rhigos-mountain-30373431?int_source=nba
2. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/plane-crashes-on-rhigos-mountain/ar-AA1u5MtX
3. South Wales Fire & Rescue Service: https://www.southwales-fire.gov.uk/newsroom/
3. https://airport-data.com/aircraft/G-RVAR.html
4. https://www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/Rhigos
5. https://www.radarbox.com/data/registration/G-RVAR
6. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/g-rvar
7. Previous incident Rhigos Airfield 26 Novemer 2020 (ASN entry): https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/456270
8. https://www.flysouthwales.co.uk/site-guides/rhigos/
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhigos

Built 2018. First UK registered (while under construction) on 7 September 2017 as G-RVAR to the one and only owner (to date). The same aircraft had previously been involved in an incident, also at Rhigos Airfield on 26 November 2020 (see AAIB Report and separate ASN entry)

After the incident at Rhigos Airfield on 26 November 2020, the aircraft appears to have been repaired and returned to service, with the one-and-only owner from new. Total amount of flying hours accumulated on the airframe: 77 as at 17 October 2024.

✈️ Earlier today, crews from Hirwaun, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare were called to assist a light aircraft crash in #Rhigos.

? Thankfully the pilot was successfully rescued with no life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/SwVjMASADh

— South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (@SWFireandRescue) November 13, 2024

✈️ Yn gynharach heddiw, cafodd criwiau o Hirwaun, Merthyr Tudful ac Aberdâr eu galw i gynorthwyo damwain awyren ysgafn yn #Rhigos.

? Diolch byth, cafodd y peilot ei achub yn llwyddiannus heb unrhyw anafiadau sy'n bygwth bywyd. pic.twitter.com/wcLkXV4IaJ

— Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru (@TanDeCymru) November 13, 2024

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
14-Nov-2024 18:32	gerard57	Added
14-Nov-2024 20:15	RobertMB	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Source, Narrative, ]
15-Nov-2024 08:43	legocarre	Updated [Time, Narrative, Category, ]
15-Nov-2024 16:53	RobertMB	Updated [Time, Narrative, Category, ]
18-Nov-2024 18:05	Aerossurance	Updated [Location, Source, Narrative, ]
20-Nov-2024 10:44	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Location, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ]