Bulldog T.1 XX514 at Knayton.

At around 13.00hrs on 29th September 1986 this Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School aircraft (under command of No.1 Flying Training School) took off from Topcliffe with a instructor and a Royal Navy student pilot on board. During the flight some form of simulated bird avoidance was undertaken while flying at low level in the Knayton area. In either making a simulated avoidance or when a real bird needed to be avoided the pilot lost control, the aircraft sideslipped and struck a tree. The collision with the tree tore off a wing. It then crashed into a grass field near The Hollins which saw the nose, both wheels and the fuselage extensively damaged. Both crew sustained injuries and was hospitalised. I thank the landowner, Mr C.Tunnicliffe, for contacting me during the early days of this website and for the information he was able to provide.

Instructor Pilot - Lt.Cdr. Christopher Kirby RN.

Pupil Pilot - Lt Mark Martin RN.