A two-seater aircraft crashed in a field after its pilot lost control during aerial acrobatics, killing both occupants, according to an official investigation.

Matthew Bird, aged 21 and from Spofforth, and Oliver Dawes, aged 24 from Burley-in-Wharfedale, were fatally injured when their Cessna FRA150L went down close to Thorganby, in the area lying between York and Selby, on the morning of July 28 2024.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch published its findings on April 30 2026, revealing the plane had entered a left-spin that could not be corrected.

Investigators established that when the pilot attempted to regain control, the control column was not moved sufficiently forward to restore lift to the stalled wing, leaving the aircraft in a continued stall.

Consequently, the aircraft persisted in its spinning descent until making impact with the ground.

The investigation determined that Bird had only recently completed his aerobatic certification, and the necessary recovery procedure had not yet developed into an automatic, ingrained skill, particularly under stressful conditions.

The aircraft had taken off from Breighton Airfield at approximately 8.15am under clear skies, with the pilot advising air traffic control of his plans to perform acrobatics at altitude.

Just before the accident, a distress signal was broadcast indicating the aircraft was in an uncontrollable spin, with radar tracking showing a steep descent before the aircraft vanished from monitoring systems.

The investigation team calculated the vertical speed at roughly 5,700 feet per minute before impact occurred in a field near Thorganby at about 8.45am.

An exhaustive inspection of the wreckage uncovered no indication of any prior mechanical defect that might have played a role in the incident.

The AAIB noted that the accident demonstrated how unexpectedly challenging multiple-turn spin recovery can be, even for qualified aviators.

The report also highlighted that while manufacturer guidance advises the use of parachutes during aerobatic flight, this is not mandatory and neither person on board was wearing one.

Following publication of the findings, the Civil Aviation Authority announced plans to strengthen safety recommendations for flight training establishments, encompassing guidance on spin recognition and recovery procedures.

Both men were pronounced dead at the crash site.