RAF Spitfire pilot, 43, was killed in Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crash likely caused by ‘decades-old piece of debris in engine’, report finds

DAILYMAIL.COM • 2h ago

By JAKE HOLDEN, UK NEWS REPORTER 12:38 04 Oct 2026, updated 12:52 04 Oct 2026

The death of an RAF Spitfire pilot who was killed when his plane crashed during a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was ‘very likely’ caused by a decades-old piece of debris in the engine, a report has concluded.

Squadron leader Mark Long, 43, died near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on May 25, 2024.

His plane went down at 1.16pm shortly after he took off to do a series of flypasts and a display for the memorial.

Mr Long’s family said in a statement issued by the MoD following his death: ‘Mark lived his life with an unwavering passion with laughter, love and dedication to his family.

‘His talent for flying was there for all to see and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious. Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all.’

He was flying a Supermarine Spitfire MK356, which was built at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory, owned by the Morris Motors Company, in Birmingham in early 1944.

The Defence Safety Authority published a report into his death to ‘inform the military chain of command and the public of the findings of the inquiry and its recommendations to improve defence safety’.

A service inquiry panel said ‘engine performance data and witness statements align with what would be expected if the aircraft was experiencing fuel starvation’.

The report stated: ‘The panel concluded that it was very likely that debris in the carburettor partially blocked the lean metering jet.

‘This blockage reduced fuel flow, resulting in an overly lean mixture, decreased engine power and ultimately reduced thrust, preventing Fighter 2 from maintaining the performance required for safe flight.

‘The panel concluded that debris within the carburettor was very likely to be the causal factor that prevented the engine from producing the thrust required to maintain flight.’

Chemical analysis revealed that the debris had been ‘present for decades’.

There were also problems found with Mr Long’s restraint system in the cockpit, which includes harnesses and other measures to hold him in place.

The problematic design was ‘critical in the survivability of the pilot’ and was ‘very likely to have been an aggravating factor in the accident and design changes and modifications should be considered to enhance survivability’, the report said.

Mr Long was born in Bury St Edmunds and graduated initial officer training in 2003, the MoD said.

He was then sent to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to fly the Tucano before gaining his “wings” in 2003.

His advanced flying training was on the Hawk, and he was selected to take on the role of an instructor. He later converted to the Harrier GR7/9 and was posted to RAF Cottesmore.

He was the last RAF Harrier pilot qualified to conduct operations off an aircraft carrier.

In 2012, Mr Long joined the Typhoon Force and was assigned to RAF Coningsby.

In 2016, he was the Typhoon display pilot, and his primary role was to teach student pilots how to operate the jet.

The MoD said that alongside his instructional duties, Mr Long also helped defend UK sovereign airspace by undertaking quick reaction alert duties in the UK, the Falkland Islands and while on Baltic air policing operations in Lithuania.

At the time of his death, he was in his fourth season with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

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