Watchdogs Probed Five Incidents Involving Planes at Fatal Crash Flying School

Planes owned by a firm involved in a crash that killed a teenager and his flying instructor had previously been the subject of at least five investigations by aviation watchdogs, according to a report.

Leading Edge Flight Training owns eight light aircraft, including the Piper Tomahawk that crashed on October 16, killing 16-year-old Ryan Sprott and his 80-year-old instructor Ian Haggis. Research indicates that planes owned by the flight school have been involved in at least five serious incidents since 2019 that were investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The aircraft involved in the fatal crash near Drymen, Stirlingshire, had recently undergone maintenance. According to tracking data, the plane was in the hangar for work from September 28 until the day of the accident, October 16.

Previous AAIB investigations involving planes owned by Leading Edge include:

• July 2019: A Piper Tomahawk overturned after touching down before reaching the runway at Cumbernauld airport. The pilot and passenger were unharmed.
• August 2019: A four-seater Reims Cessna veered off the runway due to the "inadvertent application of braking."
• March 2022: Another Tomahawk's engine caught fire during an attempted start for a student. Investigators attributed the fire to "over priming" the engine.
• April 2022: An instructor took two passengers on a flight with the towbar still attached to the plane. Air traffic control alerted the pilot, who stated they were distracted by a passenger's question before takeoff.
• September 2023: The same plane involved in the April 2022 incident caused a British Airways jet to abort its landing after being maneuvered incorrectly on the runway at Glasgow Airport. The BA flight performed a "go-around" and landed safely later.

Four aviation industry sources expressed concerns about Leading Edge's safety record to the Mail on Sunday. One former employee, now a commercial pilot, stated he left the company four years prior due to serious concerns about the condition of the aircraft, citing an incident where a plane began shaking violently mid-flight with a missing bolt on the engine cowling, secured with tape.

Police Scotland and the AAIB are continuing their investigation into the fatal crash. The Crown Office has stated it is committed to ensuring the circumstances are aired in an appropriate legal forum. A spokesman confirmed that reports related to the deaths had been received and that the investigation, supported by the Civil Aviation Authority, is ongoing. The Civil Aviation Authority declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.