A pilot and a passenger travelling on a introductory flight experience given as a present were killed when their glider plummeted 150ft at a racetrack, a report says.
Pilot Edward Browne, 66, and passenger James Litchfield, 64, died when the Hoffmann H36 Dimona crashed shortly after take-off at Darley Moor Airfield, Derbyshire, on April 8 last year.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has now published its report into the tragedy, describing the glider’s weight when taking off as a ‘contributory’ factor.
The advised maximum weight for such an aircraft’s payload is 170.6kg – but this one was more than 35kg above, found by investigators to have been 206kg.
Payload figures are based on the difference when subtracting a flight’s non-lifting parts from the aircraft’s weight when empty.
The AAIB report published today mentioned how Mr Litchfield was bought the flight experience by a family member.
Witnesses previously told how the aircraft began swaying just moments after taking off, before rolling swiftly to the right and plunging to the ground.
And the new report describes the movements as ‘wallowing’ before falling to the ground ‘in a steep nose-down attitude from approximately 100 to 150ft.’
Edward Browne (pictured), 66, and passenger James Litchfield, 64, died when the Hoffmann H36 Dimona crashed shortly after take-off at Darley Moor Airfield, Derbyshire, on April 8 2025
Family of James Litchfield (pictured), a company director from Ashbourne in Derbyshire, had been given the trip as a present from a family member
Witnesses at a cycling event on Darley Moor racetrack (pictured) at time of the crash previously told how the aircraft ‘tumbled from the sky’ before their eyes
The aircraft took off from the runway ‘as expected’ but was then ‘unable to maintain a safe climbing speed or trajectory’, according to the AAIB.
Investigators said, however, they were ‘unable to determine why the aircraft did not climb normally or what factors contributed to the pilot not being able to carry out a successful forced landing’.
The inquiry also did not find any evidence of technical issues affecting engines.
While the pilot had been seen preparing the aircraft ahead of the flight, a ‘Daily Inspection’ book was not signed, the AAIB said – meaning there was no evidence of calculations about weight and balance.
The ‘relatively limited’ maximum payload of the aircraft was meant to be 170.6kg – but another error earlier following a weighing report put it at 184kg.
And now the AAIB investigation has suggested the payload was actually as much as 206kg.
The AAIB report suggested the pilot’s weight was 75kg, the passenger’s 113kg and the overall weight of the aircraft was at least 791.6kg – ‘approximately 35kg above the maximum allowable takeoff weight for non-lifting parts’.
Today’s report adds: ‘While the aircraft took off above its maximum approved mass, the investigation considered that to be a contributory, rather than causal, factor.’
Action to prevent similar tragedies has been promised, with this glider’s operating club saying it had taken safety action to amend its flight booking processes.
These would newly require an online data capture to be completed, while having customers sign flight waivers.
Boarding weights declared on those forms would then be checked at the airfield before a passenger’s first flight.
The British Gliding Association has now written to its member clubs reiterating guidance on introductory flights and highlighting the importance of flight preparation.
There are also plans to issue a notice to all its inspectors highlighting the necessity to identify all relevant information – including a non-lifting parts limitation – when producing aircraft weighing reports.
The active airfield area at the site occupies the southern section of a disused wartime aerodrome, while the northern section provides a racing circuit.
Witnesses who were at a cycling event on Darley Moor racetrack at the time of the crash said the aircraft ‘tumbled from the sky’ before their eyes.
One said: ‘I was at an event at the racetrack. The plane just tumbled out of the sky and nose-dived straight into the ground.
‘People called the ambulance and the police and everything and the event was cancelled – they didn’t let anyone in after it happened.’
The AAIB said today the flight operator, not named in its report, had since amended its flight booking processes to ensure online data capturse and flight waiver forms.
Meanwhile, photos of the slain student couple have been released by relatives.
The Metropolitan Police today said: ‘Their families have now released these photos of the two men and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
Investigations into the collision are ongoing and officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed it, as well as anyone who was driving on the A515 past Darley Moor between 11.20am and 11.40am on Tuesday who may have dashcam footage of a light aircraft in the area.
