Jet Provost T.3 near Kirby Wharfe.
On Friday, 13th December 1963 this No.7 Flying Training School aircraft took off from Church Fenton airfield at 12.17hrs with the relatively inexperienced pilot detailed to undertake a general handling exercise. At 12.40hrs the pilot had undertaken part of his flight and was returning to the landing circuit of Church Fenton but low cloud in the area presented him with a problem. He descended to 1,000 feet but the cloud based was below this height. He then climbed back to 2,000 feet and levelled off and at this time he noticed that ice was forming on the canopy and wings. He again descended down to 1,000 feet but noticed a smell of burning and that his instruments were showing a high rate of descent. He pulled back on the control column but the forced exerted on him casued him to partially consiousness. After a few seconds he regained consiousness, noticed the instruments were reading as before, and as he had lost control he ejected at around 1,500 feet above the ground. The aircraft crashed between Towton and Kirby Wharfe, and he landed nearby with minor injuries caused by the ejection.
Pilot - P/O Terence John Michaels RAF (4231888). Injured.