Wassmer Jodel D.120 Paris Nice G-AXDX near Low Ellington.
The owner of this aircraft farmed at West Tanfield. He had previously owned Slingsby Nipper G-AVTB which he based at his farm strip but he had crashed near the village on 8th June 1968. He later bought Jodel D.120 G-AXDX which was registered to him on 20th July 1970 but he based this at the former bomber command airfield at Tholthorpe which still had hanger facilities.
On Saturday, 20th October 1979 the owner took off from Tholthorpe with his teenage daughter as a passenger and they flew over to the Masham area where they overflew fields to check on crops. While flying over his sister-in-law's Manor Farm, Low Ellington, the aircraft's engine cut out and he went on to force land in a field on the farm. The aircraft was badly damaged and both the pilot and passenger received injuries that saw then taken to Northallerton Friarage Hospital.
Pilot - Mr Gerald David Pybus.
Passenger - Miss Jennifer Pybus.