A Civil Aviation Authority report has concluded there is no evidence the Shoreham Airshow disaster pilot would have been at risk of cognitive impairment when his vintage jet crashed killing 11 men.
Experts who investigated pilot Andy Hill’s claims said the G force associated with his 2015 aerobatic display could not have caused a momentarily loss of control.
The pilot claimed he had not been in full control of his actions when he attempted the fatal loop manoeuvre.
Mr Hill said the G-force he experienced in his Hawker Hunter jet caused him cognitive impairment.
The Civil Aviation Authority “enquiry into the risk of cognitive impairment due to G forces” is described as a review into the safety risk from cognitive impairment in pilots experiencing low level G forces.
A panel of experts concluded: “The Review Team has concluded that there is no identifiable risk of cognitive impairment in civil pilots experiencing G forces at levels, and for durations recorded by accident investigators as having been experienced by the Shoreham pilot.”
Mr Hill was acquitted of 11 counts of manslaughter following an Old Bailey trial.
The CAA expert report concludes there is no evidence to suggest cognitive effects can be demonstrated at low levels of G force when experienced for the short period of time associated with aerobatic displays.
“The overwhelming weight of available scientific evidence does not show any demonstrable, practical and meaningful cognitive impairments under +4 Gz that would point to impaired flight safety,” the report said.
Andy Hill survived the crash with minor injuries.
Mr Hill was cleared of manslaughter by gross negligence following an Old Bailey trial in March last year.
Jacob Schilt, 23, was travelling to a football match with Worthing United FC when he was killed.
His mother Caroline Schilt said: “The families were given a summary on Tuesday, so we’ve had a chance to digest it.
“We couldn’t imagine it would have come differently, but it’s good to see it in black and white.”
The families want Go-Pro footage from the plane to be used at the inquest.
They want to apply to the High Court for permission to have the camera footage released to the coroner.
“We want to get the footage because we feel it is vital for the inquest,” Mrs Schilt said.
The inquest into the deaths of 11 men who died when the vintage jet crash landed on August 22, 2015 is expected to be held in September 2021.
The full inquest was due to be heard in September this year after the Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed it would not be reopening their investigation.
Coronavirus lockdown pushed the start date back to September 2021 at the earliest, six years after the crash.
The coroner for West Sussex apologised to the families for continuing delays.
Senior coroner for West Sussex, Penelope Schofield told the families in January: “Can I say to the families, you have been incredibly patient.”
During another pre-inquest hearing the coroner ruled the inquest will be heard without a jury.
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