Image copyright EPA Image caption The jet crashed on to the busy A27 and burst into flames

A jet crashed on a major road killing 11 men in a fireball because it was too low to perform an aerobatic manoeuvre, investigators have found.

The Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27 in Sussex during the Shoreham Air Show on 22 August 2015.

A further 13 people, including the pilot Andy Hill, were injured.

In its final report on the disaster, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) listed a series of failings including poor risk assessments.

Mr Hill, 52, from Hertfordshire, has been the subject of a manslaughter investigation by Sussex Police and was interviewed under caution.

'A fireball headed towards us at 400mph'

Live updates: Shoreham air disaster report

On publication of the report into the disaster, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said: "The aircraft crashed because at the top of its aerobatic manoeuvre it was too low to complete it."

Image copyright PA Image caption Pilot Andy Hill survived the crash

The parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said: "Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Shoreham Air Show organisers have got much to answer for.

"Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers."

Caroline Schilt, the mother of Jacob Schilt, who died along with fellow Worthing United player Mr Grimstone as they travelled in a car to a game, said she was happy with the AAIB's investigation, but there would still be unanswered questions until the inquests were held.

"The AAIB has given us as a very comprehensive and factual report of their investigation... but there are still questions and they are ones for the coroner, and she is still waiting for all the inquiries to finish before she can go further."

A new date has now been set for the rescheduled pre-inquest review into the deaths.

It will take place on 20 June at the West Sussex Coroner's Court, in Crawley, but no evidence will be heard.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Oliver Morriss said his family would like to see those responsible for the disaster brought to justice

The organisers of the airshow said the report "clearly confirms that a series of errors by an experienced and fully authorised pilot were the cause of the tragic crash".

The AAIB criticised risk assessments which did not adequately protect people in areas "outside the control of the organisers", but Shoreham chiefs claimed they had "always worked hard to ensure the event was both safe and successful".

"Our main aim in 2015 was to do just that, but there are findings in the report that will require further analysis and reflection.

"The report also contains important recommendations for the CAA, as well as the wider airshow industry, and these must be noted carefully," they said.

'Escape manoeuvre'

The report said the pilot carried out the manoeuvre at less than maximum thrust.

It would have been possible to abort it safely at the apex of the loop but Mr Hill had not been trained in the escape manoeuvre which might have got him out of trouble.

Image copyright PA Image caption Eleven men were killed and a further 13 people, including the pilot, were injured

The AAIB also found the severity of the outcome of the crash was due to "an absence of provisions to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the organisers of the flying display".

The report said the risk assessment "was not suitable and sufficient to manage the risks to the public", and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) did not require to see or approve risk assessments before issuing a permission to hold a flying display.

The AAIB made 31 safety recommendations for the CAA and one for the government.

Ten are in the final report, including that airshow organisers must conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments, and pilots must tell organisers what manoeuvres they will carry out and where.

The AAIB also recommends that pilots should be trained in escape manoeuvres, and that displaying aircraft are separated from the public by a sufficient distance to minimise risk of injury to the public.

It also recommends that the Department for Transport commission, and report the findings of, "an independent review of the governance of flying display activity to determine the form of governance that will achieve the level of safety it requires".

The CAA said it had acted on 21 recommendations and would action the other 10 as a priority.

Analysis

Richard Westcott, transport correspondent

Investigators interviewed the Shoreham pilot several times but critically, he can't remember anything about the accident.

They say his flight helmet had dents in so it's possible he hit his head.

What that means is that, although they know the aircraft was flying too low and too slow, and that the engine wasn't at full power when it should have been, they can only speculate as to why.

One possible explanation they've looked at is whether the pilot got confused with another jet aircraft, called a Jet Provost, which he normally flies.

The height and speed he started the Shoreham manoeuvre would be right for the Jet Provost, because it is smaller and lighter than the Hunter.

Aviation specialists have suggested that he may have got the planes muddled up. But it's unlikely that we will ever know for sure.

Sussex Police said it would be looking at the AAIB report in detail with its independent experts.

Det Ch Insp Paul Rymarz said: "We have been waiting some time for this report and it will take us some time to review.

"We hope to do everything we can to submit a file of material to the CPS in advance of the pre-inquest review on 20 June.

"As we have said before, this is an extraordinarily complex investigation, but we remain committed to finding answers for the families and friends of those who died."

Image copyright BBC/Sussex Police/Facebook Image caption (Top row, left to right) Matt Jones, Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt, Maurice Abrahams, Richard Smith. (Bottom row, left to right) Mark Reeves, Tony Brightwell, Mark Tussler, Daniele Polito, Dylan Archer, Graham Mallinson

Both the AAIB and CAA have already published a series of interim reports looking at the findings from the crash scene and implications for air displays around the UK

An AAIB report in September 2015 found the jet showed "no abnormal indications" during its flight.

But a further report in December said the aircraft had expired ejector seat parts and an out-of-date technical manual.

In March last year, the AAIB said organisers of the Shoreham air show were unaware of the pilot's display plans.

Safety measures at all UK civil air shows were enhanced following the disaster and the CAA said it had reviewed every aspect of air display safety.

The victims

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Mark Sanderson says he will always remember Jacob Schilt and Matt Grimstone as great footballers

Who were the Shoreham air crash victims?</s>Accident investigators have concluded that the Shoreham air disaster was caused by pilot error.

Eleven people died when a 1955 Hawker Hunter, piloted by Andrew Hill, crashed onto the A27 in West Sussex during an air show on August 22, 2015.

The speed that the jet aircraft entered a loop manoeuvre was too low and it failed to use maximum thrust, the final report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found.

Flight trials indicated the pilot could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after the aircraft reached the top of the loop, but Mr Hill either did not perceive it was necessary or did not realise it was possible, the AAIB said.

The pilot had not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre and had not had his competence to do so assessed, the report found.

The speed, height and thrust followed in the Hunter were "very similar" to another aircraft that the pilot had flown during displays in the run up to the Shoreham event, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said.

He added that it was possible "the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft."

The severity of the outcome was found to be due to the "absence of provisions" to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the air show organisers.

Mr Hill, from Sandon, Hertfordshire, survived the crash but suffered serious injuries. He is being investigated by Sussex Police for possible manslaughter.

He was interviewed on seven occasions by AAIB investigators but because of restrictions advised by his doctors they were not able to question him about his conduct during the flight, the AAIB said.

Mr Hill did not recall events between the evening of August 19 and regaining consciousness in hospital after the accident.

He was therefore able to describe his normal practice but not the events on the day of the crash.

The pilot was attempting a bent loop, in which the aircraft pitched up into a loop and then rolls before leaving the manoeuvre in a different direction to its entry.

His display authorisation permitted him to carry out aerobatics at a minimum altitude of 500ft and the normal technique would be to enter the loop at an airspeed of at least 350 knots and use maximum engine thrust to achieve a height of at least 3,500ft at the apex.

But Mr Hill flew at just 185ft at a speed of just 310 knots, reaching 2,700ft at the top of the loop.

Cockpit footage during the flight showed Mr Hill "alert and active", with no suggestion he had passed out, investigators said.

AAIB Julian Firth said: "The aircraft crashed because at the top of its aerobatic manoeuvre it was too low to complete it.

"The reason that the results of this crash were so disastrous is because measures to protect the public were not effective."

A number of safety recommendations were made by the AAIB to the Civil Aviation Authority over improving air show safety.

These include reviewing arrangements for the regulation of ex-military aircraft.

Responding to the official AAIB report into the Shoreham air disaster, the parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said that the Civil Aviation Authority

and the air show organisers "have got much to answer for".</s>The Shoreham air disaster was caused by the pilot flying too slowly and too low during a loop manoeuvre, accident investigators have said.

Eleven people were killed and 13 injured on 22 August, 2015, when Andrew Hill, 52, crashed in a vintage jet onto the A27 in West Sussex during an air show.

The final report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) stated that the speed the 1955 Hawker Hunter was doing when it entered the manoeuvre was too low, and it failed to use maximum thrust.

The AAIB also concluded that measures taken to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing outside the boundary of the air show were “ineffective” and contributed to the severity of the death toll.

Responding to the report, Sue and Phil Grimstone, the parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the air show organisers “have got much to answer for”.

In a statement, they said: “Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong, it is very evident the CAA and the Shoreham Air Show organisers have got much to answer for. Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers.”

Mr Hill, from Sandon, Hertfordshire, suffered serious injuries. He is being investigated by Sussex Police for possible manslaughter.

Following the publication of the AAIB report, the force said it hopes to submit a file of material to the Crown Prosecution Service by 20 June.

Flight trials indicated that Mr Hill, a former RAF pilot, could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after reaching the top of the loop, but he either did not perceive it was necessary or did not realise it was possible.

He had not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre and had not had his competence to do so assessed, the report found.

The speed, height and thrust followed in the Hunter were “very similar” to a Jet Provost that the pilot had flown during displays in the run-up to the Shoreham event, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said.

He added that it was possible “the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft”.

Mr Hill was interviewed on seven occasions by AAIB investigators, but could not remember events between 19 August and regaining consciousness in hospital.

Organisers of the Shoreham air show said it was unlikely they will stage such events in the future.</s>An investigation has found that a series of pilot errors caused the Shoreham Airshow disaster which led to the deaths of 11 men.

A vintage 1955 Hawker Hunter aircraft, flown by pilot Andy Hill, crashed onto the busy A27 in West Sussex on 22 August 2015.

A further 13 people were injured in the disaster and a final report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) listed a series of failings including poor risk assessments. One of them was that Hill had "not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre".

The 52-year-old pilot from Hertfordshire survived the crash and has been the subject of a manslaughter investigation by Sussex Police. Prosecutors are reportedly thinking about bringing a case after he was interviewed under caution.

It was said in the report that Hill had failed to gain enough height and speed to complete the "bent loop" manoeuvre he was undertaking before the crash.

Investigators said they believed it would have been possible for Hill to halt the manoeuvre but concluded that he either felt it unnecessary or did not know how to do it.

The AAIB interviewed Hill seven times in the past 18 months but he was unable to remember anything about the flight itself.

The report said: "The pilot had not received formal training to escape from the accident manoeuvre in a Hunter and had not had his competence to do so assessed.

"He had not practised the technique for escaping from the accident manoeuvre in a Hunter and did not know the minimum speed from which an escape manoeuvre could be carried out successfully".

Other findings concluded that the plane was not supposed to have been performing the stunt over the A27 as organisers could not control where the plane would come down.

It was stated that the plane had "not been properly maintained". Part of the fuel pump showed signs of ageing and was not considered airworthy.

The report also criticised the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which approves safety conditions at airshows. It said the CAA attended only 7% of the airshows that it had approved on safety grounds.

The report made 32 recommendations which focused on the maintenance of military planes, the quality of risk assessments and the permits pilots are given.</s>Pilot errors and ineffective measures to protect the public led to the deaths of 11 men when a vintage jet crashed on to a dual carriageway during the Shoreham air show, investigators say.

The Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27, destroying vehicles and bursting into flames on 22 August 2015.

A further 13 people, including the pilot Andy Hill, were injured.

In its final report on the disaster, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) listed a series of failings.

Mr Hill, 52, from Hertfordshire, has been the subject of a manslaughter investigation by Sussex Police and interviewed under caution.

'A fireball headed towards us at 400mph'

On publication of the report into the disaster, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said: "The aircraft crashed because at the top of its aerobatic manoeuvre it was too low to complete it."

The parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said: "Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Shoreham Air Show organisers have got much to answer for.

"Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers."

The report said the pilot carried out the manoeuvre at less than maximum thrust.

It would have been possible to abort it safely at the apex of the loop but Mr Hill had not been trained in the escape manoeuvre which might have got him out of trouble.

The AAIB also found the severity of the outcome of the crash was due to "an absence of provisions to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the organisers of the flying display".

The report said the risk assessment "was not suitable and sufficient to manage the risks to the public", and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) did not require to see or approve risk assessments before issuing a permission to hold a flying display.

The report makes a series of safety recommendations including that airshow organisers must conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments, and pilots must tell organisers what manoeuvres they will carry out and where.

The AAIB also recommends that pilots should be trained in escape manoeuvres, and that displaying aircraft are separated from the public by a sufficient distance to minimise risk of injury to the public.

Investigators interviewed the Shoreham pilot several times but critically, he can't remember anything about the accident.

They say his flight helmet had dents in so it's possible he hit his head.

What that means is that, although they know the aircraft was flying too low and too slow, and that the engine wasn't at full power when it should have been, they can only speculate as to why.

One possible explanation they've looked at is whether the pilot got confused with another jet aircraft, called a Jet Provost, which he normally flies.

The height and speed he started the Shoreham manoeuvre would be right for the Jet Provost, because it is smaller and lighter than the Hunter.

Aviation specialists have suggested that he may have got the planes muddled up. But it's unlikely that we will ever know for sure.

Sussex Police said it would be looking at the AAIB report in detail with its independent experts.

Det Ch Insp Paul Rymarz said: "We have been waiting some time for this report and it will take us some time to review.

"We hope to do everything we can to submit a file of material to the CPS in advance of the pre-inquest review on 20 June.

"As we have said before, this is an extraordinarily complex investigation, but we remain committed to finding answers for the families and friends of those who died."

Both the AAIB and CAA have already published a series of interim reports looking at the findings from the crash scene and implications for air displays around the UK

An AAIB report in September 2015 found the jet showed "no abnormal indications" during its flight.

But a further report in December said the aircraft had expired ejector seat parts and an out-of-date technical manual.

In March last year, the AAIB said organisers of the Shoreham air show were unaware of the pilot's display plans.

Safety measures at all UK civil air shows were enhanced following the disaster and the CAA said it had reviewed every aspect of air display safety.

The AAIB made 21 safety recommendations which were all accepted by the CAA this year.

Who were the Shoreham air crash victims?
• Daniele Polito, 23 - he was travelling in the same car as Mr Jones
• Matthew Grimstone, 23 - a Worthing United footballer who worked as a groundsman at Brighton & Hove Albion
• Maurice Abrahams, 76 - a chauffeur on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day
• Richard Smith, 26, and Dylan Archer, 42 - friends who were going for a bike ride on the South Downs
• Mark Reeves, 53 - he had taken his motorcycle to the perimeter of Shoreham Airport to take photos of the planes
• Tony Brightwell, 53, - an aircraft enthusiast who had learned to fly at Shoreham airfield
• Mark Trussler, 54 - thought to have been riding his motorcycle on the A27</s>The Shoreham air disaster was caused by the pilot flying too slow and too low during a loop manoeuvre, accident investigators have said.

Eleven people were killed and 13 injured on August 22, 2015, when Andrew Hill, 52, smashed a vintage jet onto the A27 in West Sussex during an air show.

The speed that the 1955 Hawker Hunter entered the manoeuvre was too low and it failed to use maximum thrust, the final report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) stated.

It also concluded that measures taken to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing outside the boundary of the air show were "ineffective" and contributed to the severity of the incident's toll.

Responding to the report, the parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the air show organisers "have got much to answer for".

In a statement, they said: "Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong, it is very evident the CAA and the Shoreham Air Show organisers have got much to answer for.

"Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers."

Mr Hill, from Sandon, Hertfordshire, suffered serious injuries and is being investigated by Sussex Police for possible manslaughter.

Following the publication of the AAIB report, the force said it hopes to submit a file of material to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) by June 20.

Flight trials indicated the former Royal Air Force pilot could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after reaching the top of the loop, but he either did not perceive it was necessary or did not realise it was possible.

He had not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre and had not had his competence to do so assessed, the report found.

The speed, height and thrust followed in the Hunter were "very similar" to a Jet Provost that the pilot had flown during displays in the run up to the Shoreham event, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said.

He added that it was possible "the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft".

Mr Hill was interviewed on seven occasions by AAIB investigators, but he could not remember events between the evening of August 19 and regaining consciousness in hospital after the accident.

He was able to describe his normal practice, but not the events on the day of the crash.

The pilot was attempting a bent loop, in which the aircraft pitches up into a loop and then rolls before leaving the manoeuvre in a different direction to its entry.

His display authorisation permitted him to carry out aerobatics at a minimum altitude of 500ft and the normal technique would be to enter the loop at an airspeed of at least 350 knots and use maximum engine thrust to achieve a height of at least 3,500ft at the apex.

But Mr Hill began the stunt at 185ft and a speed of 310 knots, reaching 2,700ft at the top of the loop.

Cockpit footage during the flight showed Mr Hill "alert and active", with no suggestion he had passed out, investigators said.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz said officers will now begin looking at the AAIB's report with their independent experts.

He said: "We have been waiting some time for this report and it will take us some time to review.

"Our progress has been dependent on this final report and as a result of the ruling in the High Court, much of the material contained in it has not been seen by the investigation team until now."

He added: "We remain committed to finding answers for the families and friends of those who died."

Organisers of the Shoreham air show said it was unlikely they will stage "the same or similar style event" in the future.

The AAIB made a total of 32 safety recommendations for the CAA, including 10 in the final report.

The CAA said it would act on them "as a priority".

Safety rules at UK air shows were tightened in the wake of the Shoreham crash.</s>A woman performing a wing-walking stunt and her pilot were killed on Saturday when their biplane crashed and burst into flames while doing aerobatics at an air show in Ohio, organizers of the event said.

Veteran stuntwoman Jane Wicker and her pilot, Charlie Schwenker, died when their Boeing Stearman crashed around 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) at the Vectren Dayton Air Show in Dayton.

Video footage of the incident replayed on television and the Internet showed that at the time of the crash, the duo appeared to have been executing a stunt in which the vintage plane flips as Wicker is out on one of its wings.

Once the aircraft turns upside down, Wicker maneuvers to sit on the bottom of the now-inverted wing. But in this case the plane smashed into a grassy area before Schwenker could pull out of the stunt.

"Watch this, Jane Wicker sitting on top of the world!" the show's announcer is heard saying just before the crash. Spectators shout and scream as the plane disintegrates and quickly explodes.

"There was a significant explosion. There was smoke and fire. The announcers had the kids look away," said Michael Emoff, chairman of the 39th annual show. "The weather was fine. Clearly something went wrong."

No one on the ground was injured, organizers said.

It was the latest in a string of deadly air show accidents in recent years - including one at Dayton six years ago - that have raised questions over the safety of such events.

In 2011 a modified World War Two-era fighter dubbed "The Galloping Ghost" crashed in front of the grandstand at the Reno Air Races in Nevada, killing 11 people and injuring more than 50 others.

Last year a Soviet-era military training jet crashed and burst into flames during an air show in Iowa, killing the pilot in an accident that took place near a busy interstate highway.

Emoff said that "fairly aggressive acrobatic acts" are common at the show, which has been the scene of at least one other fatal crash. In 2007 a pilot failed to pull out of a loop fast enough and smashed into the ground, he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and local authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said an investigation could take several months to a year to complete.

John Cudahy, president of the International Council of Air Shows, a trade group, said such crashes are becoming less common but still happen twice per year on average.

The show will resume on Sunday, organizers said. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson, Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Xavier Briand)</s>The Shoreham air disaster in which 11 people were killed was caused by the pilot flying too slow and too low during a loop stunt, an official investigation has declared.

A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch concluded Andy Hill failed to achieve sufficient height during the manoeuvre before crashing on the A27 in West Sussex.

The vintage 1955 Hawker Hunter crashed in a fireball on the busy road on August 22, 2015, smashing into vehicles and pedestrians and injuring 16 more people.

Those killed were Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer; Matthew Grimstone, 23, a goalkeeper for Worthing United; Jacob Schilt, 23, a midfielder with Worthing United; 23-year-old father Daniele Polito; 49-year-old motorcyclist Mark Trussler; chauffeur Maurice Abrahams, 76; grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, cyclist Richard Smith, 26; Dylan Archer, a 42-year-old father of two; aircraft enthusiast Tony Brightwell, 52, and former engineer Graham Mallinson, 72.

Responding to the AAIB report into the Shoreham air disaster, the parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said that the Civil Aviation Authority and the air show organisers 'have got much to answer for'.

In a statement, they said: 'Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the CAA and the Shoreham Air Show organisers have got much to answer for.

'Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers.'

The 18-month probe by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) set out to determine the cause of the crash and make safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

The body previously said it does not 'apportion blame or liability'.

Organisers of the Shoreham Air Show said it was 'unlikely' they will ever stage 'the same or a similar' event again.
• None The 1955 Hawker Hunter was going too slow during manoeuvre and 'failed to use maximum thrust'
• None The pilot 'could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after reaching the top of the loop', but that Mr Hill 'did not perceive or realise it was necessary'
• None Mr Hill had 'not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre'
• None He may have been confused with a 'very similar' aircraft he had flown during the run up to the event
• None Mr Hill failed to answer questions in seven separate interviews about his 'conduct' during the flight due to 'doctors' restrictions'

Mr Hill did not recall events between the evening of August 19 and regaining consciousness in hospital after the accident.

He was therefore able to describe his normal practice but not the events on the day of the crash.

The pilot was attempting a bent loop, in which the aircraft pitched up into a loop and then rolls before leaving the manoeuvre in a different direction to its entry.

His display authorisation permitted him to carry out aerobatics at a minimum altitude of 500ft and the normal technique would be to enter the loop at an airspeed of at least 350 knots and use maximum engine thrust to achieve a height of at least 3,500ft at the apex.

But Mr Hill flew at just 185ft at a speed of just 310 knots, reaching 2,700ft at the top of the loop.

Cockpit footage during the flight showed Mr Hill 'alert and active', with no suggestion he had passed out, investigators said.

AAIB Julian Firth said: 'The aircraft crashed because at the top of its aerobatic manoeuvre it was too low to complete it.

'The reason that the results of this crash were so disastrous is because measures to protect the public were not effective.'

The speed that the 1955 Hawker Hunter entered the manoeuvre was too slow and it failed to use maximum thrust, the final report found.

Flight trials indicated the pilot could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after the aircraft reached the top of the loop, but Mr Hill either did not perceive it was necessary or did not realise it was possible, the AAIB said.

The pilot had not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre and had not had his competence to do so assessed, the report found.

The speed, height and thrust followed in the Hunter were 'very similar' to another aircraft that the pilot had flown during displays in the run up to the Shoreham event, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said.

He added that it was possible 'the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft.'

The severity of the outcome was found to be due to the 'absence of provisions' to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the air show organisers.

Mr Hill, 52, from Sandon, Hertfordshire, survived the impact despite suffering serious injuries and is being investigated by Sussex Police for possible manslaughter.

He was interviewed on seven occasions by AAIB investigators but because of restrictions advised by his doctors they were not able to question him about his conduct during the flight, the AAIB said.

A number of safety recommendations were made by the AAIB to the Civil Aviation Authority over improving air show safety.

These include reviewing arrangements for the regulation of ex-military aircraft.

Sue and Phil Grimstone, whose 23-year-old Worthing United footballer son died as he made his way to a match, said that some rules for air shows were 'clearly inadequate' and those that were not were 'not fully adhered to by the air show organisers'.

They and other families touched by the disaster told of their disappointment that safety recommendations to cut the risk of a repeat tragedy have not yet been fully implemented.

Some of the relatives of the injured and the 11 men who died in the crash said their questions have not been fully answered by the air accident investigators' final report.

Lawyers for 14 of the victims affected by the crash, including those who lost loved ones and others who were severely injured, said some relatives were left feeling there was a lack of accountability.

In a joint statement, Mr and Mrs Grimstone said: 'Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the Civil Aviation Authority and the Shoreham air show organisers have got much to answer for.

'Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers.'

Phil Grimstone added: 'The police will do things correctly in their own time and we have every confidence in them. Everything should be done as it should be done.'

Caroline Schilt, the mother of Jacob Schilt, who died along with fellow Worthing United player Mr Grimstone as they travelled in a car to a game, said she was happy with the AAIB's investigation.

But she said questions still hang over the circumstances leading up to the death of her 23-year-old son, which hopefully an inquest will answer.

Mrs Schilt said: 'As far as the AAIB is concerned we are happy, but we still have questions because we haven't yet had the inquests.

'The AAIB has given us as a very comprehensive and factual report of their investigation, and we are happy with that. A huge amount of work has gone into it.

'But there are still questions and they are ones for the coroner, and she is still waiting for all the inquiries to finish before she can go further.'

Some reacted angrily to the AAIB's disclosure that Mr Hill had not had formal training to stop the loop manoeuvre which led to the crash and had not had his competence to do so assessed.

Nino Vydeenaden, 22, a friend of victim Matt Jones, 24, said: 'It's going to anger a lot of people. If the pilot had not had formal training to stop what he was doing, then he shouldn't have done it.

'I think it's ridiculous. I know the AAIB doesn't want to point the finger at anyone, but if he had not had formal training to stop that manoeuvre then he shouldn't have flown the plane.

'The pilot is going to have to live with that. And now the families are going to be thinking that it could have been prevented. People are going to be furious.'

Mr Vydeenaden, who had known Mr Jones for around five years, said the last 18 months had been a struggle for the community in Shoreham.

'Everyone has found it difficult and it's still very raw,' he said. 'It shook the town. Matt was a fun-loving character who got on well with everybody, and he was genuine.

'What you saw with Matt was what you got.'

Rebecca Smith, an aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing some of the victims, said the crash was 'a disaster waiting to happen'.

She said: 'The AAIB investigation and report has been central to the families' desire to establish the truth as to what happened. They finally have some answers, which is clearly a relief.

'The overwhelming concerns which remain are the lack of adequate safety regulations which were in place before the accident together with the failure of the organisers of the air show to implement existing CAA procedures which were in force at the time.

'Tragically, it appears that this was a disaster waiting to happen and one that could have been avoided.

'It remains a significant disappointment that 18 months after this tragedy occurred, many of the recommendations made by the AAIB to improve the safety of future air shows have still not been implemented by the CAA.

'The CAA has stated they may not be in a position to complete aspects of their investigation until 2018.'

Organisers of the Shoreham air show said it was unlikely they will stage 'the same or similar style event' in the future.

Colin Baker, one of the Shoreham air show directors, said: 'The report clearly confirms that a series of errors by an experienced and fully authorised pilot were the cause of the tragic crash on August 22, 2015.

'The Shoreham Airshow has been an important part of the local community for 26 years, raising over £2 million for charity.

'The organisers always worked hard to ensure the event was both safe and successful.

'Our main aim in 2015 was to do just that, but there are findings in the report that will require further analysis and reflection.

'The report also contains important recommendations for the CAA, as well as the wider air show industry, and these must be noted carefully.'

Families of the deceased were invited to attend a private face-to-face briefing on the AAIB's final report on Thursday.

Leslye Polito, from Worthing, mother of Daniele, said: 'Like with all the other families, we want answers.

'I'm interested to know what the conclusions are in the report and to see if there is any new information.

'That's all I'm hoping for right now, and there's nothing else I can say.'

Worthing United FC have a memorial wall featuring pictures of players Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23, who died in the crash as they travelled in a car to play a home match.

Mark Sanderson, the club's secretary and vice chairman, described them as 'my boys'.

He said: 'They were firm favourites with the squad - Matt being a goalkeeper and Jacob an outfield player.

'They were signed up looking forward to the new season at the time when the crash happened.

'For the rest of the season, it seemed to gel everyone, and there was a pretty strong bond.

'They were, as I have described them before, my boys.'

The Rev Terry Stratford, associate priest of St Mary de Haura Church in Shoreham, where some of the victims' families gathered before the first anniversary of the disaster, said the AAIB report will not provide final closure.

He said: 'The families and the community are asking the age-old question of why and how did it happen.

'Once the report is out, people will be able to take it on board. But for the families, they are still facing up to the tragic deaths of their loved ones in terrible circumstances.

'Everybody - the families and the community - just want to know what happened. Once we know, adjustments can be made to life and people can move forward. But at the moment, it's the great unknown.

'This report will be a further stage reached for the families, but not the culmination.'

The Shoreham Airshow will not be staged this summer, for the second year running, out of respect for the families of the victims.

Speaking on behalf of the families he is representing, James Healy-Pratt, head of aviation and travel at Stewarts Law, said: 'This AAIB final report is a critical step on the journey to the truth for the families left bereaved by the Shoreham air crash.

'They have waited patiently over the past 20 months, as they want to see a comprehensive review of how this air show disaster happened, what went wrong, and how future innocent lives should be saved through important new safeguards.

'The families understand there will be unanswered questions after the AAIB report, that are better answered through the coroner's investigation and inquest, and potentially the criminal investigation by Sussex Police.

'Their journey to the truth is long, but they are determined that no stone should be left unturned, so that lessons can be learned and appropriate actions taken.'</s>The pilot who crashed a jet into a busy A-road killing 11 people might have forgotten which plane he was in, the report into the disaster reveals.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report concluded Andy Hill failed to achieve sufficient height during the manoeuvre before crashing on the A27 in West Sussex.

It speculated that he could have become used to a different, less powerful plane he had been flying and have forgotten he was in the 1955 Hawker Hunter, meaning he thought he could perform the stunt at a lower altitude.

Prosecutors will consider opening a case against the Shoreham pilot the report also revealed.

The vintage plane crashed in a fireball on the busy road on August 22, 2015, smashing into vehicles and pedestrians and injuring 16 more people.

Sussex Police has now announced that it hopes to submit a file of material to the Crown Prosecution Service before the next pre-inquest review on June 20.

And the organisers also faced criticism in the report for the 'absence of provisions' to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside their control.
• None The 1955 Hawker Hunter was going too slow during manoeuvre and 'failed to use maximum thrust'
• None The pilot 'could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after reaching the top of the loop', but that Mr Hill 'did not perceive or realise it was necessary'
• None Mr Hill had 'not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre'
• None He may have been confused with a 'very similar' aircraft he had flown during the run up to the event
• None Mr Hill failed to answer questions in seven separate interviews about his 'conduct' during the flight due to 'doctors' restrictions'
• None The plane itself had 'not been properly maintained'

Responding to the AAIB report into the Shoreham air disaster, the parents of victim Matthew Grimstone, 23, said that the Civil Aviation Authority and the air show organisers 'have got much to answer for'.

In a statement, they said: 'Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the CAA and the Shoreham Air Show organisers have got much to answer for.

'Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers.'

The 18-month probe by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) set out to determine the cause of the crash and make safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

The body previously said it does not 'apportion blame or liability'.

Organisers of the Shoreham Air Show said it was 'unlikely' they will ever stage 'the same or a similar' event again.

Mr Hill did not recall events between the evening of August 19 and regaining consciousness in hospital after the accident.

He was therefore able to describe his normal practice but not the events on the day of the crash.

The pilot was attempting a bent loop, in which the aircraft pitched up into a loop and then rolls before leaving the manoeuvre in a different direction to its entry.

His display authorisation permitted him to carry out aerobatics at a minimum altitude of 500ft and the normal technique would be to enter the loop at an airspeed of at least 350 knots and use maximum engine thrust to achieve a height of at least 3,500ft at the apex.

Those killed were Matt Jones, 24, a personal trainer; Matthew Grimstone, 23, a goalkeeper for Worthing United; Jacob Schilt, 23, a midfielder with Worthing United; 23-year-old father Daniele Polito; 49-year-old motorcyclist Mark Trussler; chauffeur Maurice Abrahams, 76; grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, cyclist Richard Smith, 26; Dylan Archer, a 42-year-old father of two; aircraft enthusiast Tony Brightwell, 52, and former engineer Graham Mallinson, 72.

But Mr Hill flew at just 185ft at a speed of just 310 knots, reaching 2,700ft at the top of the loop.

Cockpit footage during the flight showed Mr Hill 'alert and active', with no suggestion he had passed out, investigators said.

The AAIB's Julian Firth said: 'The aircraft crashed because at the top of its aerobatic manoeuvre it was too low to complete it.

'The reason that the results of this crash were so disastrous is because measures to protect the public were not effective.'

The speed that the 1955 Hawker Hunter entered the manoeuvre was too slow and it failed to use maximum thrust, the final report found.

Flight trials indicated the pilot could have pulled out of the stunt up to four seconds after the aircraft reached the top of the loop, but Mr Hill either did not perceive it was necessary or did not realise it was possible, the AAIB said.

The pilot had not received formal training to escape the manoeuvre and had not had his competence to do so assessed, the report found.

The speed, height and thrust followed in the Hunter were 'very similar' to another aircraft that the pilot had flown during displays in the run up to the Shoreham event, AAIB principal inspector Julian Firth said.

He added that it was possible 'the pilot recalled the wrong numbers, essentially mixing up the two aircraft.'

The severity of the outcome was found to be due to the 'absence of provisions' to mitigate the effects of an aircraft crashing in an area outside the control of the air show organisers.

Mr Hill, 52, from Sandon, Hertfordshire, survived the impact despite suffering serious injuries and is being investigated by Sussex Police for possible manslaughter.

He was interviewed on seven occasions by AAIB investigators but because of restrictions advised by his doctors they were not able to question him about his conduct during the flight, the AAIB said.

A number of safety recommendations were made by the AAIB to the Civil Aviation Authority over improving air show safety.

These include reviewing arrangements for the regulation of ex-military aircraft.

Sue and Phil Grimstone, whose 23-year-old Worthing United footballer son died as he made his way to a match, said that some rules for air shows were 'clearly inadequate' and those that were not were 'not fully adhered to by the air show organisers'.

They and other families touched by the disaster told of their disappointment that safety recommendations to cut the risk of a repeat tragedy have not yet been fully implemented.

Some of the relatives of the injured and the 11 men who died in the crash said their questions have not been fully answered by the air accident investigators' final report.

Lawyers for 14 of the victims affected by the crash, including those who lost loved ones and others who were severely injured, said some relatives were left feeling there was a lack of accountability.

In a joint statement, Mr and Mrs Grimstone said: 'Apart from anything that the pilot may have got wrong it is very evident the Civil Aviation Authority and the Shoreham air show organisers have got much to answer for.

'Rules laid down by the CAA were quite clearly inadequate and those that were there were, in some cases, not fully adhered to by the air show organisers.'

Phil Grimstone added: 'The police will do things correctly in their own time and we have every confidence in them. Everything should be done as it should be done.'

Mr Schilt, 23, had been on the way to play an away football match with his Worthing United FC team when he was killed in the tragic plane crash.

His mother Caroline, said: 'We are angry with the Civil Aviation Authority because their rules are simply inadequate.

'The organisers of the event were complying with the safety standards but they are simply not adequate enough to begin. They weren’t breaking the regulations - they simply weren’t in place.

'Also we cannot believe the pilot was not trained in an exit manoeuvre if the manoeuvre went wrong - that was quite shocking. We would plant the blame directly at the doorstep of the CAA.

'We’re happy with the report. It extremely detailed. We’re living with the loss of Jacob day to day - nothing is going to bring him back. We want answers but we want the investigation carried out thoroughly and correctly.'

Father-of-two Mr Archer was on a cycle ride with friend Mr Smith when they both died in a crash.

Alice, his partner of 17 years said, was unavailable today but a neighbour said: 'It’s been a long drawn out process for all the families and this report is something that will give some answers.'

Mr Brightwell, a healthcare manager for Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, had cycled to the airshow on his bicycle and told his fiancee, Lara Ashby, he would return in a couple of hours.

At the time of the tragedy Miss Ashby, 48, of Hove said she had lost the 'love of her life' and her 'soul mate'.

A friend said: 'It is devastating that no one has been charged with any wrongdoing for this. It is time for the police to put their cards on the table and decide who is punishable.'

Some reacted angrily to the AAIB's disclosure that Mr Hill had not had formal training to stop the loop manoeuvre which led to the crash and had not had his competence to do so assessed.

Nino Vydeenaden, 22, a friend of victim Matt Jones, 24, said: 'It's going to anger a lot of people. If the pilot had not had formal training to stop what he was doing, then he shouldn't have done it.

'I think it's ridiculous. I know the AAIB doesn't want to point the finger at anyone, but if he had not had formal training to stop that manoeuvre then he shouldn't have flown the plane.

'The pilot is going to have to live with that. And now the families are going to be thinking that it could have been prevented. People are going to be furious.'

Mr Vydeenaden, who had known Mr Jones for around five years, said the last 18 months had been a struggle for the community in Shoreham.

'Everyone has found it difficult and it's still very raw,' he said. 'It shook the town. Matt was a fun-loving character who got on well with everybody, and he was genuine.

'What you saw with Matt was what you got.'

Rebecca Smith, an aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing some of the victims, said the crash was 'a disaster waiting to happen'.

She said: 'The AAIB investigation and report has been central to the families' desire to establish the truth as to what happened. They finally have some answers, which is clearly a relief.

'The overwhelming concerns which remain are the lack of adequate safety regulations which were in place before the accident together with the failure of the organisers of the air show to implement existing CAA procedures which were in force at the time.

'Tragically, it appears that this was a disaster waiting to happen and one that could have been avoided.

'It remains a significant disappointment that 18 months after this tragedy occurred, many of the recommendations made by the AAIB to improve the safety of future air shows have still not been implemented by the CAA.

'The CAA has stated they may not be in a position to complete aspects of their investigation until 2018.'

Organisers of the Shoreham air show said it was unlikely they will stage 'the same or similar style event' in the future.

Colin Baker, one of the Shoreham air show directors, said: 'The report clearly confirms that a series of errors by an experienced and fully authorised pilot were the cause of the tragic crash on August 22, 2015.

'The Shoreham Airshow has been an important part of the local community for 26 years, raising over £2 million for charity.

'The organisers always worked hard to ensure the event was both safe and successful.

'Our main aim in 2015 was to do just that, but there are findings in the report that will require further analysis and reflection.

'The report also contains important recommendations for the CAA, as well as the wider air show industry, and these must be noted carefully.'

East Worthing and Shoreham Conservative MP Tim Loughton said the report identified 'clear failures' in risk assessments and risk controls that should have been operating at Shoreham.

Mr Loughton called for a 'swift decision' by the police and CPS on whether any legal action should take place, for the sake of the victims' families.

He said: 'It is clear from the report that the aircraft was in a perfectly serviceable condition and had no obvious mechanical faults which would have inevitably resulted in the crash.

'Therefore it will now be up to the police investigators to determine whether any criminal act has been committed and who, if anybody, is culpable of having not taken action which might have prevented this accident.

'It is important to remember that the safety record of civilian air shows in the UK is an impressive one and this tragedy represents the first loss of civilian life on the ground since the Farnborough air crash back in the 1950s, but the report identifies clear failures in risk assessments and risk controls that should have been operating at Shoreham and for whatever reason were not doing so as effectively as they might have done.'

Families of the deceased were invited to attend a private face-to-face briefing on the AAIB's final report on Thursday.

Leslye Polito, from Worthing, mother of Daniele, said: 'Like with all the other families, we want answers.

'I'm interested to know what the conclusions are in the report and to see if there is any new information.

'That's all I'm hoping for right now, and there's nothing else I can say.'

Worthing United FC have a memorial wall featuring pictures of players Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23, who died in the crash as they travelled in a car to play a home match.

Mark Sanderson, the club's secretary and vice chairman, described them as 'my boys'.

He said: 'They were firm favourites with the squad - Matt being a goalkeeper and Jacob an outfield player.

'They were signed up looking forward to the new season at the time when the crash happened.

'For the rest of the season, it seemed to gel everyone, and there was a pretty strong bond.

'They were, as I have described them before, my boys.'

The Rev Terry Stratford, associate priest of St Mary de Haura Church in Shoreham, where some of the victims' families gathered before the first anniversary of the disaster, said the AAIB report will not provide final closure.

He said: 'It has been a long 18 months for the family and while this report will not bring closure it is a significant step.

'After the tragedy there was a numbness in Shoreham and people didn’t know what to say to each other.

'The community wants to see answers like the families do, they want to know what happened, and this report is one step along that journey.'

The Shoreham Airshow will not be staged this summer, for the second year running, out of respect for the families of the victims.

Speaking on behalf of the families he is representing, James Healy-Pratt, head of aviation and travel at Stewarts Law, said: 'This AAIB final report is a critical step on the journey to the truth for the families left bereaved by the Shoreham air crash.

'They have waited patiently over the past 20 months, as they want to see a comprehensive review of how this air show disaster happened, what went wrong, and how future innocent lives should be saved through important new safeguards.

'The families understand there will be unanswered questions after the AAIB report, that are better answered through the coroner's investigation and inquest, and potentially the criminal investigation by Sussex Police.

'Their journey to the truth is long, but they are determined that no stone should be left unturned, so that lessons can be learned and appropriate actions taken.'</s>The pilot and co-pilot of a large UPS cargo plane were killed in a crash Wednesday morning near the airport in Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor William Bell said.

The pilot and co-pilot, who have not been identified, were the only occupants of United Parcel Service Inc flight 1354, which was en route from Louisville, Kentucky, to Birmingham when it crashed on approach about 6 a.m. (1000 GMT), the Birmingham mayor said.

He said no bystanders were hurt in the incident.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch determines that a pilot error was the cause of the crash.