San / Jodel D.117 Grand Tourisme G-AZFK at Doncaster airfield.
During the morning of 14th July 1973 this aircraft was flown on a training exercise with the pilot being the owner of the aircraft and the chief flying instructor of Doncaster Aero Club assessing him for his instrument rating. They took off from Doncaster airfield at 09.10hrs and it was the first time that the pilot / owner had flown this aircraft. It had an air speed indicator that measured in KPH (rather than MPH) and this may have had some baring in the crash occurring. Various gliders were using the same in runways and were also in the air at the time in the general area of the airfield though the instrument rating assessment was carried out away from this area. At 10.00hrs the aircraft was making an approach to land at Doncaster airfield with the owner in control. A glider was seen on a different runway to which the aircraft was making the approach and it was thought that the instructor had seen this and he had presumed it was about to take off which would have put them into a converging course. The instructor took control and made a right turn, it was assumed that this was to avoid a potential collision. Unfortunately the flying speed was low and he lost control, it then spun into the ground on the southwest side of the airfield site and broke up. It was thought that the instructor made a quick glance over to the air speed indicator instrument but forgot it was reading in KPH so indavertantly allowed the flying speed to remain slower than he would had it been reading in MPH. The aircraft was too low for the pilot to recover the aircraft.
The aircraft was bought Mr Frank Ferguson in December 1972. He was from Brimington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Where he based the aircraft is not known.
Pilot - Mr Frank Fergsuon. Aged 47. Injured.
Instructor - Mr James Watson. Aged 43. Burial location unknown.