Bebb, Thomas William (Flight Lieutenant)

On 4 October at CFB Portage La Prairie, an aerobatic team pilot, call sign "Gold Nine", in 26185 was number six in a six plane Golden Centennaires section proceeding on a training flight. A secondary purpose of this mission entailed public relations photographic work. The formation took off in a four-plane diamond followed by the two solos (Gold Seven and Gold Nine) in line abreast. The formation then commenced aerobatic manoeuvres trailed by Gold Seven with his photographer passenger. Gold Nine was to either loiter behind the formation or to proceed to the solo area until photography of the four plane formation had been completed. At this time Gold Seven was to leave the formation and join up with Gold Nine for photographs of the two solo a/c performing coordinated aerobatic manoeuvres. After completing the first photography phase of the exercise, Gold Seven left the four plane formation and attempted to rendezvous with Gold Nine but was unable to make visual or radio contact with him. Wreckage of Gold Nine was discovered in the area of the initial formation manoeuvres. The a/c had impacted the ground in a 10 degree dive at approximately 280 Kts. There was apparently no attempt to eject and the pilot was killed on impact. Questioning of witnesses enabled the investigation to reconstruct almost entirely, the events which culminated in the crash. Gold Nine evidently elected to stay with the formation during the first phase of the exercise, as all witnesses reported seeing six a/c flying together just before the crash. It appears that the formation had completed either a roll or loop and were followed through this manoeuvre by Gold Nine. Gold Nine either recovered from the manoeuvre or only partially recovered, but then continued descending in a shallow dive of approximately 10 degrees with wings rocking 15-20 degrees until impact with the ground. The technical investigation revealed that all systems were normal at the time of the crash. The elevator trim was set at take-off and the speed brakes were "in". A pair of needle nosed pliers was, however, found in the wreckage and the investigation theorized that jamming of the elevator controls by the pliers could have caused the crash. The precise cause of the crash was undetermined. However, the most probable cause was jamming of the elevator controls by FOD.Kestrel Publications