Wildcat crash

On 6 July 2023, Grumman FM-2 Wildcat G-KINL (c/n 5744) crashed and flipped over while trying to land at Heveningham Hall, Heveningham, Halesworth, UK. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft received substantial damage. He was on its way to Heveningham being invited to become part of a festival with classic cars and warbirds.

The Wildcat is a General Motors built FM-2 that made its first flight after restoration on 12 October 2022. It was painted in desert camouflage as Royal Navy ‘AX733/K’. Its previous identities are G-CHPN, N49JC, N70637, N20HA, N68760, and BuNo 86690 (US Navy). Scramble reported earlier on G-KINL on 15 October 2022.

Photo: David Whitworth