1 July 2025
Following the publication of the AAIB report on the tragic accident at Bagby, Fox Aircraft Engineering has issued the following statement:
We welcome the publication of the AAIB report relating to the tragic crash of the Piper Aztec G-BKJW resulting in the death of Harvey Dunmore, a dear friend and colleague of this organization and all the engineers who work within it.
We commend the AAIB’s thorough investigation leading to the conclusion that the accident was likely to have been caused by an intermittent runaway trim failure which the pilot (indeed, any pilot) would have found difficult to recover from given the height and likely configuration of the aircraft at the time of the event.
It is noted that the CAA have accepted and will action the safety recommendation findings set out in the report.
As an organisation we remain unsure as to the relevance of the two level 2 findings raised in the company (CAO and BCAR) audit prior to the accident and refute any suggestion that they are in any way connected with the cause of the crash, being in essence issues relating to administration only.
The other two aircraft referred to in the report were both released to service following further surveys carried out by the CAA.
We are not aware as an organization what the CAA’s ongoing investigations might be, but very much hope they will be concluded shortly.
The damage and distress caused by the very public arrests of three members of our organization cannot now be undone, however we hope that the CAA will swiftly overturn the provisional suspensions of three of our engineers licences and allow them to return to their work as professionals in the industry. Furthermore, we hope that the investigation being undertaken by North Yorkshire Police (in conjunction with the CAA) in relation to accusations of gross negligence manslaughter will be promptly ended.
These accusations have had a significant impact on the organization, but most importantly on the individuals unjustly accused.
We wish to clarify that Fox aircraft engineering had no involvement in the planning, coordination or operation of the flight associated with the tragic crash.
Harvey Dunmore
Our thoughts remain with Harvey’s family at this time. We wish them every success with the Harvey Dunmore Scholarship Charity Foundation and with the second successful charity ball about to take place on the night of the 19 July 2025, hosted by us at Bagby Airfield. Raising money to provide scholarships and professional tuition to aspiring junior pilots wishing to gain their Pilots licence, we know Harvey would be proud of this achievement.
