Debris in Spitfire carburettor likely caused fatal 2024 crash, report says

Debris that had remained in the carburettor of a Spitfire for decades was very likely to have caused the crash that killed Sqn Ldr Mark Long, a Ministry of Defence report has concluded. Long died when the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft he was flying crashed in a field in Lincolnshire on 25 May 2024. The Spitfire Mk IX, built in 1944, had taken off from RAF Coningsby, and witnesses saw it turn and descend 56 seconds later.

The Service Inquiry report said the debris caused fuel starvation, resulting in a loss of thrust needed to maintain powered flight. Chemical analysis indicated that the material had been in the carburettor for decades. The inquiry also found that conflicting published guidance had created uncertainty over carburettor maintenance.

According to the report, differing interpretations of how extensively the component should be dismantled, inspected and cleaned likely reduced the reliability of detecting accumulated debris. The design of the cockpit and restraint system were identified as factors that worsened the consequences of the crash. The report said structural changes could require significant modifications, affect the aircraft’s historic authenticity and potentially influence airworthiness through changes to its mass and balance.

The inquiry made 26 safety recommendations, covering maintenance records, cockpit protection and emergency training. It described the recommendations as robust and said they should reduce the likelihood of a similar tragedy happening again. An inquest into Long’s death heard that the provisional cause was head and neck injuries.

The report’s findings concern the aircraft’s failure and safety arrangements; the source material does not state whether any individual or organisation was held legally responsible. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operates historic aircraft for commemorative flypasts and displays. The report follows earlier measures that grounded Battle of Britain planes after the fatal crash, although the source material does not provide further details about those measures.