Chipmunk at Yedingham.

The Chipmunk took off from the old Middleton St George, now Teesside airport, on the 29th May 1974 with the pilot on board. It flew south-east over the Moors and landed at the former Wombleton airfield to pick up a passenger. Aerobatics were then practiced over the Vale of Pickering, near Malton, when the aircraft got into trouble. It went into a spin which the pilot was unable to recover from and the aircraft crashed at Derwent Farm, just north of Yedingham. The pilot was killed and the other man who was in the rear of the cockpit sustained serious injuries but survived. The surviver was a retired RAF pilot from the War who flew Spitfires. The two on board were:

Mr Geoff Garnett, aged 37, of Northallerton - killed.

Mr Harry Price (poss Pears), of Nawton, Helmsley - ser inj.

I have not yet visited the crash site as I dont know where it crashed exactly. I do now have a press photograph which clearly shows a farm in the back ground which must be Derwent Farm.

This incident was the second fatality within the Teesside based flying club.