Fallen Arrow

Fallen Arrow

Photo courtesy of Derek Bower. Click on the picture for a larger image.

Tuesday, 17th November 1998: Red Arrow Hawk T1A XX252 crashes on landing at RAF Cranwell after a routine training mission. Piloted by Flight Lieutenant Dick Edwards, one of the new team members for 1999, control of the aircraft was lost shortly before touchdown on runway 27, it narrowly missing the public road that passes under the approach lights, impacting a few yards short of the runway. Flt Lt Edwards managed to eject moments before, coming to rest near the runway while his jet, largely intact, careered away to the right, stopping some two hundred yards from the impact point. Edwards was taken to Nottingham General Hospital for a precautionary check-up, but was otherwise unscathed.

A Board of Inquiry was swiftly organised, the wreck remaining insitu until the Friday, while normal operations at Cranwell resumed on Wednesday once a debris sweep had been accomplished. Substantially damaged around the nose and cockpit, it would seem very unlikely the jet will be repaired. Edwards was subsequently replaced in the team by Flt Lt Jim Provost, in the Red Two slot.