I would speculate that the AAIB will be particularly focused on the images of Chris Watkins from the rear port quarter and the quality video screened right to left by ITV, both just seconds before impact…slightly nose up attitude, rate of decent, control and power settings etc.

Very very sad.

Mark

That and, the mechanical state of the a/c, configuration and health of the pilot.

Having videos and photos should make the work of the AAIB that much “easier”.
Having to reply on eye witness accounts is always a bit “hit & miss”. As has been proved in countless
civilian aircraft crashes.
On the various TV news outlets, they were grabbing anyone they could for eye witness reports.
There was some utter garbage coming out.

The AAIB is very capable. Even the cause of the crash of G-YMMM was eventually found.

Seeing as the B52 got the name BUFF by servicemen, I’d say the F35 will be called ‘Fugly’.

PM sent.

Indeed, it was always thought that the a/c would flip like that, it didn’t.
It’s an F6, the ventral tank could not be ejected. Why did it land with no u/c? Pilot error.
Airbrakes closed would indicate it would have been another touch and go.
The story. A combination of circumstances.
The pilot was doing touch and go’s. A recent order had been made to not cycle the u/c during that due to excessive wear on the u/c trunnions. Also, to save money, there was no-one observing at the approach anymore. If they saw anything wrong with the a/c they would radio ATC or fire a flare as a warning. During the touch and go’s the pilot did unthinkingly cycle up and forgot to lower it again. It then landed a little lower and shorter than expected. The damage was to the ventral tank and the port wing tip. The pilot claimed first that the u/c collapsed but it was rigorously tested and nothing was wrong. Just before getting out I believe he quickly selected down and then vacated very smartly. I was outside standing on an a/c and had a clear view of the incident, I have never seen a pilot dressed in full kit run so fast!
Btw for those of you who have seen late photo’s of an F6 with a full ventral tank and no cannons. For those of you in the know, the tanks were modified in the late ’60’s to hold cannons, but only for the F6 models. The a/c was of course brought into ASF and they surveyed the damage and demanded the parts. The front section ventral tank was an unmodded version and there was much scratching of the head by the team chiefs. I was posted shortly after that so I never found out if they could demand a modded tank. I assume not…

I don’t think anybody flew as low as this one…..
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Well, his landing was a bit low..

Looked more like piling on the coal.

Machrihanish had very few aircraft based there when I served on it. I remember a Victor and a Shackleton, on the fire compound……
The stories about it are very over-rated. It was a staging post and a weapons store, that’s all.