A PILOT and his passenger escaped serious injury when a vintage aircraft crashed on landing on the Blackdown Hills at Dunkeswell Airfield on Thursday evening (May 28).

The biplane had just completed an ‘experience’ flight operated by RD Tiger Moths when it is thought to have been caught by a crosswind and flipped over and was left upside down.

The pilot, believed to be Robert Doughton, aged 73, who lives near Wellington, and his passenger, escaped serious injury.

Two fire Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) crews were sent to the scene shortly before 8 pm to assist the airfield’s own emergency responders.

RD Tiger Moths pilot Rob Doughton - 'flying is in my genes'.
RD Tiger Moths pilot Rob Doughton - 'flying is in my genes'. (RD Tiger Moths)

The bright yellow De Havilland DH82C Tiger Moth wears Royal Canadian Air Force display markings and is said to be the only Canadian-built Tiger Moth in Europe, with only about 40 still flying in Canada itself.

It was built 85 years ago and has been carefully restored and maintained over the years.

Mr Doughton, who says ‘flying was in my genes’ and flew his first solo flight at the age of 17, bought two Tiger Moths and started the Dunkeswell business on his retirement.

Dunkeswell is the highest licenced aerodrome in the UK and has continued to operate as normal since Thursday’s accident.

It has four runways which are between 3,156 and 3,172 feet in length and was built as a World War Two US Naval air station.

DSFR said it mobilised two firefighting crews to respond to ‘an aircraft landing incident’ at 7.49 pm on Thursday.

A spokesperson said: “A two-person Tiger Moth aircraft crashed while landing in a field adjacent to the runway.

A pilot's eye view of Dunkeswell Airfied and its runways.
A pilot's eye view of Dunkeswell Airfied and its runways. (Dunkeswell Airfied)

“Both were conscious and breathing at the scene and were able to exit the aircraft.

“Both have minor injuries only and were advised to self-present to hospital if required.

“The aircraft sustained damage and there was a reported oil and fuel leak.”

The spokesperson said once the immediate emergency had been dealt with, the scene was handed back to the control of Dunkeswell Airfield’s management.

RD Tiger Moths offers 30-minute flights over Wellington Monument and a variety of other experiences lasting up to an hour for passengers between the ages of 14 and 89 years.

It is a satellite operation under the Civil Aviation Authority licence of Devon and Somerset Flight Training Ltd.

The Wellington Weekly has approached RD Tiger Moths for comment.