Red Arrow pilot involved in fatal crash which killed Dartford man was 'fatigued and distracted'
15:31, 14 October 2019
updated: 12:39, 15 October 2019
A Red Arrow pilot who was involved in a fatal crash which killed a Dartford man, was "fatigued and distracted", a report has said.
Flight Lieutenant David Stark was flying the Hawk MK1a jet which fell from the sky at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, in March last year.
Flt Lt Stark managed to eject from the plane, however, engineer Corporal Jonathan Bayliss failed to do so and was killed.
Cpl Bayliss, 41, who worked at Brands Hatch and was from Dartford, was named the following day as the victim of the crash.
He grew up in Hartley and was a pupil at Axton Chase School in Longfield, before heading to West Kent College and eventually ending up at University of Greenwich to complete diploma in engineering management.
The Service Inquiry Panel (SIP) looking into the circumstances of the crash explained how the jet departed from RAF Valley just before 1.30pm to simulate an engine failure before flying to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
However, during the manoeuvre it stalled and crashed and was unable to recover due to being too low to the ground.
Flt Lt Stark was described as "an above average" pilot who had taken part in these simulations multiple times.
The report stated it was very likely he was fatigued and an air traffic control call asking him to confirm the aircraft's landing gear was down had distracted him.
The cause of the accident was put down to the "stalling of the aircraft with insufficient height to recover".
Tributes poured in at the time of the accident for Cpl Bayliss.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: “I am deeply saddened by the news that Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, of the Red Arrows, who was born in Dartford and grew up in Hartley, died.
“I am sure everyone in Dartford will want to offer their deepest sympathy to his family at this difficult time and extend to them our gratitude for Corporal Bayliss’ contribution to the RAF both in the UK and abroad.
"The Red Arrows are an iconic British institution, whom the public rightly have a deep affection for. We all feel a sense of pride when we watch them fly at so many State occasions and it is a tragedy that Corporal Bayliss has lost his life serving our country.”
The Ministry of Defence said their "thoughts remains with the family, friends and colleagues of Corporal Jonathan Bayliss" and that a number of recommendations have been implemented following the accident.
Flt Lt Stark faced no punishment for the accident last year.
