http://www.aaib.gov.uk
Photo Courtesy: Pam Sheldon
A picture taken of the plane in flight just prior to the crash.
Photo Courtesy: Pam Sheldon
Emergency services attended the scene, but the male pilot was thankfully unhurt.
Photo Courtesy: Pam Sheldon
Another view of the damage, with grass embedded in the broken propeller.
Photo Courtesy: Pam Sheldon
A close up of the damage caused to the plane.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk
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Pilot error was to blame for the loss of an iconic Moray biplane after crashing into a field earlier this year.
Doubts have been cast on if the historic bright yellow Tiger Moth that had become such a popular sight in the region in recent years would ever take to the air again following the accident.
The aircraft, described as the "pride and joy" of members at the Shempston Flying Group near Lossiemouth, crashed when attempting to land on August 12.
Now the UK Air Accidents Branch (AAIB) has published a report that includes an admission by airline pilot Jim Lachendro, who was at the controls that day, that his failure to fully take account of weather conditions was the cause of the accident.
Mr Lachendro, 57, was accompanied by his son on the flight. Both survived with only minor injuries but the 70-year-old aircraft was badly damaged.
The AAIB report said: "The pilot steered the aircraft to an area of low crops with the intention of regaining lost airspeed, but was unable to prevent it from striking the ground. The pilot believed that he had focused too much on the ground-handling characteristics of the aircraft and not taken into account how the prevailing conditions would affect other phases of flight."
Mr Lachendro said that he had been concerned the Tiger Moth might crash into a small wooden knoll so had chosen to turn towards an open barley field. The report added: "He thought the aircraft had encountered a tailwind as it climbed out of the relative shelter at ground level and then had stalled when he initiated the right turn.
"All three emergency services attended the scene and the pilot and his passenger were taken to hospital but had suffered only minor injuries."
Immediately following the accident flying club member John Farquhar, 66, said he was "heartbroken" at the loss of the aircraft. He said: "My emotions have fluctuated between despair and depression and then into anger. Aircraft in similar condition have been repaired to flying condition - but at great expense."
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