1980 Biggin Hill Invader crash

The Biggin Hill Invader crash was an accident involving a Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft which crashed during an airshow at Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, on 21 September 1980. The pilot and six passengers were killed, prompting the Civil Aviation Authority to introduce rules preventing passengers from being carried during air displays.

Aircraft

The Douglas A-26 Invader was a twin-engined medium bomber built for the United States Army Air Forces around 1943. It had been sold after the war and had been operated from England since the mid-1970s as a warbird in USAAF markings as "322612", with the nickname Double Trouble. Its aircraft registration number was N3710G.

Accident

During the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain airshow, the Invader made a fast run along the crowd line at then attempted to carry out either a barrel roll or a wingover. When the aircraft was inverted, the roll rate increased and it dived into the ground in the valley at the end of the runway. The pilot and six passengers were killed.