Chipmunk G-BWJZ at Bagby airfield, Thirsk.

The Chipmunk in its RAF marking earlier in its RAF life as WK638. The aircraft was made in 1952.

The Chipmunk crashed on 22nd August 1999 at Bagby airfield, south of Thirsk at 11.04hrs following a training flight with two crew on board. They were to carry out a local flying exercise involving aerobatics. The aircraft owner was seated in the front seat and was flying the aircraft and in the rear seat was an experienced aerobatics pilot. As the aircraft taxied down the runway at Bagby prior to taking off the left side of the engine cowling opened and flapped up slightly. The pilot noticed this but as he had not enough runway left to stop safely so he continued with the take off and he then reduced power when they were airborne. The reduction in power combined with a left turn prevented the cowling from flapping up. The aircraft circuited and began its approach to land, at between five to ten feet above the east end of the runway the engine stalled and the left wing dropped and struck the ground hard which caused it to bend up. The left wheel was also bent in the landing where upon the aircraft nosed up on end bending the propeller. The pilot in the front seat banged his head on the instrument panel but was not seriously injured, both men were able to walk away from the aircraft. The fuselage was salvaged and is privately owned and housed in South Molten, Devon.

Pilot - Name unknown, slightly injured.

Passenger - Mr Tom Cassells, uninjured.