Just a quick update of the details that I have managed to obtain re the
Marshall Papworth crash. I will add that all this detail has yet to be
confirmed officially.
Mashall's aircraft was flown for the first test flight last week for 50
minutes by John Brownlow.
Yesterday (Friday) it was due to be flown for stall tests by John but
the weather prohibited this so before John left home he proposed a delay
to a later date.
Marshall and Simon, his inspector, then decided that as the aircraft was
already out, they would perform some taxi tests. This they did together
before Simon left the aircraft to resume some other work, leaving
Marshall to continue taxiing.
Later when Simon returned to the field he found the aircraft inverted
with Marshall inside, unfortunately dead. He was not wearing his seat
belt.
It would appear likely that with the reduced gross weight the aircraft
probably became airbourne at a speed at which they had previously stayed
on the ground, caught Marshall by surprise, stalled and crashed.
This crash, as indeed the Graham Singleton crash, shows no inherent
defect with the Europa design, so those of you who I know are worried
about the fleet being grounded, should be able to rest a little bit
easier (if these situations can let anyone rest easy).
Meanwhile all of our thoughts and condolences go out to those close to
the families and friends involved.
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