On the 23rd of January 1978 the crew flying this aircraft were undertaking a day-time routine training exercise, on board was an experienced instructor and a trainee pilot. The flight was to allow the trainee to gain experience in instrument flying. Although there were cloudy conditions covering at least part of the North Yorkshire Moors the height at which this part of the training flight was carried out the visibilty was adequate. The instructor let his pupil fly the aircraft using instruments, on a second attempted routine exercise the pupil let the aircraft get into a descending banked turn from which he was able to recover and which, by the time the instructor took over control, the diving turn had increased in angle and speed and the aircraft was now in cloud. The instructor was unable to get the aircraft out of what had now become a very fast dive (reported to be over 4g), control had been lost so both on board ejected. The aircraft came down in Dalby Forest near High Rigg Farm and was destroyed, the two airmen landed nearby and were later picked up by helicopter. The instructor sustained the more serious of injuries due the ejection, the pupil was only slightly injured.
Jet Provost XW426 was built to contact number KC/E/124 by B.A.C. at Luton and was completed by 25th May 1972 when it was awaiting collection from BAC Luton. It first passed to 5 MU at Kemble on 22nd June 1972 and then to 3 FTS at Leeming on 3rd November 1972 and it was coded "53", it was used in the 'Swords' Aerobatic Team in 1974 and was still at Leeming on 3rd January 1975 but was now uncoded. On 21st February 1975 it transferred to 1 FTS based at Linton on Ouse, where it was coded "-5" and on 15th April 1975 it went back to Leeming but into storage and was coded "-53". On 10th October 1975 it was allocated to BAE for conversion to a T.5A. This begun on 7th November 1975 at Warton and was completed on 27th February 1976. On this date it was transferred to 1 FTS, and returned to Linton on Ouse and coded "-60". It was destroyed in the crash detailed above on 23rd January 1978 and damage recorded as Cat.5(s)/FA. It was struck off charge on 27th January 1978.
Instructor Pilot - F/Lt John Hughes, aged 31, minor injuries.
Trainee Pilot - F/Lt David J Bowring BSc RAF (5203385), aged 22, minor injuries.
I am very aware that both men involved in this incident are probably still alive, I am therefore not keen to detail their flying careers here without having their consent first. The basics shown below is available in the London Gazette.
David Bowring was appointed a permenant commission in the RAF 22nd August 1976, with seniority back-dated to 22nd November 1974. He rose to F/O on 22nd February 1977, with seniority back-dated to 22nd May 1975 and then to F/Lt on 22nd November 1977.
I believe the aircraft crashed into the trees beside this wall in the photograph shown above.
A view of the same area shown from a different angle.