Slingsby Nipper G-ATBW near New Marske.

On 11th December 1977 the pilot of this aircraft was on approach to land in his field at Yearby when it suffered a serious loss of power causing the aircraft to undershoot and in the ensuing forced landing it collided with the boundary fence of the field/landing strip. On examination it was found that the spark plugs were found to be badly fouled and the carburettor needle worn, causing an excessively rich mixture. The aircraft had 73 total flying hours at the time of the accident, it suffered damage to the wings, landing gear and propeller and Cat.2/FA was recorded.

Pilot - Mr Douglas Marshall, of Yearby. Uninjured,

The aircraft was built by Avian Fairey SA at Gosselies in Belgium as Serial No.52. It was first registered to Golden River Aviation Club at Wevelgem, Belgium as OO-MAG in 1960. it later went to Air Affairs at Gosselies on 8th February 1962 and on the same date was cancelled as 'Sold to England'. It was then registered to M. Kennedy as G-ATBW on 19th March 1965 and passed into the hands of F.W. Grotepass at Panshangaron on 19th August 1966. It suffered a Cat.2/FA accident when it crashed on landing at Ongow strip on 2nd April 1967 and was repaired and purchased by M. Catton at Portsmouth on 30th May 1969. It was later purchased by H.P. Burrill on 1st October 1971 and N.J. Cole at Headcorn on 15th June 1972. It moved onto P Easton on 29th April 1974, J. Connolly on 5th August 1974 and D. Marshall at Yearby on 19th July 1976.

Following the incident above it was repaired but suffered a further mishap still in Mr Marshall's hands in mid 1979 (date not known). Its C of A expired 25th September 1979 (so the accident appears to have been before this date). It was not repaired and was stored at Fenland. It was later repaired and registered to P.J. Dockerill at Leicester on 11th November 1982. It was purchased by N.J. & S.P. Newbold & C.M. Evans at Fenland on 28th June 1984 and put into store. Its C of A was renewed on 15th August 1984 and it was registered to G.A. Dunster at Stapleford Tawney on an unknown date. Its C of A expired on 12th March 1992. It was registered to S.C.M. Defries at Stapleford Tawney on 24th November 1995 and suffered a Cat.2/FA accident at Stapleford Tawney on 7th February 1999. No indication of a repair is given but it must have been and it was later registered to C. Firth & S. Bloomfield on 7th August 2001. It's registration is still current.