Tragic Crash of Replica Spitfire During Final Test Flight Claims Experienced Pilot at 68

A pilot died after going into a spin on the final test flight of a Spitfire replica, an inquest heard.

Trevor Bailey, 68, died on August 22, 2023, after the aircraft – named Molly – crashed into a field near the A44 in Enstone in Oxfordshire.

Only a year later, a second pilot – Peter Hughes – died flying a similar aircraft on July 28 at Enstone Airfield.

Mr Bailey, an experienced pilot, was carrying out the 20th test flight of a replica Spitfire in preparation for inspection by a representative from the Light Aircraft Association.

The purpose of the test flight was to validate the effectiveness of new stall strips that had been installed on the wings. Mr Bailey had suggested these strips himself to address a previous issue where the aircraft would veer to the right during stalling.

After stalling twice witnesses noticed that on the third stall the pilot had ‘not recovered’ – meaning the plane levels out and continues to fly.

Instead, the plane ‘went into a shallow spiral dive’ before crashing.

Mr Bailey, from Cheltenham, died from a ‘traumatic brain injury’, as concluded by a post-mortem examiner.

Trevor Bailey, aged 68, tragically lost his life on August 22, 2023, when his plane crashed in a field close to the A44 in Enstone, Oxfordshire. In the photo, he is seen alongside his wife, Kate.

Mr Bailey was an experienced pilot who was performing the 20th test flight of a replica Spitfire before it was due to be ‘signed off’ by an inspector from the Light Aircraft Association

After two successful stalls witnesses noticed on the third stall the pilot had ‘not recovered’ – meaning the plane levels out and continues to fly. Instead, the plane ‘went into a shallow spiral dive’ before crashing

An inquest with a jury began at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday and is expected to last a few days to determine the circumstances which caused Mr Bailey’s death.

During the start of the inquest, the jury heard evidence from Roy Noble who was a volunteer involved in an Oxfordshire project to build Spitfires named the ‘Spitfire Club’, based at Enstone Airfield.

He explained the Spitfire had been a ‘kit plane’ ordered from America and a team of three to four people had built it.

‘Between us we had the skills to build the plane,’ he said. 

The aircraft had to be signed off by the LAA, verifying it is safe to fly.

Mr Bailey was the only pilot to fly the aircraft and would give Mr Noble and the team feedback to improve it.

‘I respected him, he was a very good chap,’ said Mr Noble. 

‘There was no ambiguity in how he described what was going on, he was very clear.’

Describing the incident, Mr Noble said: ‘He went into the third stall, normal approach, normal nose rising but when the nose dipped there was no recovery.

‘He did not regain altitude and the plane started to fell and then the right wing fell and he went into a shallow spiral dive, we could see it was going round and round and round.’

An inquest with a jury commenced at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday and is expected to last a few days. It is to determine the circumstances which caused Mr Bailey’s death

The family of Mr Bailey paid tribute to an ‘amazing husband, brother, dad, grandad and friend’

Shortly after Mr Bailey’s tragic death, his family paid tribute to an ‘amazing husband, brother, dad, grandad and friend’.

He left behind four children and eight grandchildren, and was the eldest of three brothers. 

In a statement Mr Bailey’s family said: ‘People keep saying “the world will be a sadder place without Trevor”. 

‘He really was the very best person you could ever hope to meet.

‘That deep voice, the infectious grin and his real interest in whoever he was talking to, he made everyone feel special.

‘His love of life, and of his family and his huge amounts of energy meant that life was never dull.

‘Your legacy will live in our hearts and your incredible grandchildren who we know you were so proud of and we have always been so proud of you. Our Hero’. 

The inquest continues.