Two people escaped serious injury after a Tiger Moth aircraft crashed upside down at a UK airfield. The incident occurred at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon on Thursday, May 28, at around 7:49 PM.
Crash Details
The vintage biplane, historically used for pilot training during World War II, suffered a malfunction while landing. Witnesses reported that the aircraft flipped into a field adjacent to the runway. Local couple Ashleigh and Dawn Vaughan observed the emergency response at approximately 8 PM. Ashleigh commented, "On research these biplanes are prone to flipping on landing if there's a strong rogue wind. It appears that the plane had been landing on the runway and then flipped into the field."
Emergency Response
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service dispatched two fire engines to the scene. The service stated, "A two-person Tiger Moth aircraft crashed whilst landing in a field adjacent to the runway at M35. The aircraft sustained damage and there was a reported oil and fuel leak." They confirmed that both occupants were conscious and breathing, able to exit the aircraft with only minor injuries, and were advised to seek hospital care if necessary.
Aircraft History
The de Havilland Tiger Moth, designed in 1931, served as a primary trainer for the RAF and Commonwealth pilots, including training for Spitfire and Hurricane pilots. Over 1,500 were used by the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1938 to 1948.
This is not the first incident at Dunkeswell involving this model; in 2017, two people also escaped serious injury after crashing a Tiger Moth at the same airfield.
