Decades-old debris in Spitfire ‘very likely’ caused fatal crash in 2024 – report

Debris present in a Spitfire for decades “very likely” caused a crash which killed a Royal Air Force pilot, a report has concluded.

Squadron leader Mark Long, 43, died after his Spitfire crashed during a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on May 25 2024.

The crash occurred at 1.16pm on take-off as Mr Long departed to conduct a series of flypasts and a display as part of the BBMF schedule.

He was flying a Supermarine Spitfire MK356, which was built at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory, owned by the Morris Motors Company, in Birmingham in early 1944.

The Defence Safety Authority published a report into his death to “inform the military chain of command and the public of the findings of the inquiry and its recommendations to improve defence safety”.

A service inquiry panel said “engine performance data and witness statements align with what would be expected if the aircraft was experiencing fuel starvation”.

The report stated: “The panel concluded that it was very likely that debris in the carburettor partially blocked the lean metering jet.

“This blockage reduced fuel flow, resulting in an overly lean mixture, decreased engine power and ultimately reduced thrust, preventing Fighter 2 from maintaining the performance required for safe flight.

“The panel concluded that debris within the carburettor was very likely to be the causal factor that prevented the engine from producing the thrust required to maintain flight.”

Chemical analysis indicated that the debris had been “present for decades”, the report found.

The panel also concluded the restraint system – which includes harnesses and other structures holding the pilot in place – was “critical in the survivability of the pilot”.

It added that the design was “very likely to have been an aggravating factor in the accident and design changes and modifications should be considered to enhance survivability”.

In a statement issued by the MoD following his death, Mr Long’s family said: “Mark lived his life with an unwavering passion with laughter, love and dedication to his family.

“His talent for flying was there for all to see and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious. Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all.”

Mr Long was born in Bury St Edmunds and graduated initial officer training in 2003, the MoD said.

He was then sent to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to fly the Tucano before gaining his “wings” in 2003.

His advanced flying training was on the Hawk and he was selected to take on the role of an instructor. He later converted to the Harrier GR7/9 and was posted to RAF Cottesmore.

He was the last RAF Harrier pilot qualified to conduct operations off an aircraft carrier.

In 2012, Mr Long joined the Typhoon Force and was assigned to RAF Coningsby.

In 2016, he was the Typhoon display pilot and his primary role was to teach student pilots how to operate the jet.

The MoD said that alongside his instructional duties, Mr Long also helped defend UK sovereign airspace by undertaking quick reaction alert duties in the UK, Falkland Islands and while on Baltic air policing operations in Lithuania.

At the time of his death, he was in his fourth season with the BBMF.