FOR reasons that have not been ascertained, the pilotof theDan-Air Piper Apache which crashed into high ground en route from Gatwick to Lasham on September 1, 1966, had attempted to remain ]below cloud when such an operating technique was not practicable in the weather conditions prevailing. The air- craft was on a communications flight with two crew aboard (only the pilot had an instrument rating) and was well equipped for IFR operation yet the decision was taken to fly VFR. The inspector of accidents in his report just published* notes that radar services were standing by at Lasham to give approach guidance to the Apache, and that the weather information passed to the pilot indicated a cloud base at Lasham of 300ft above ground with a visibility of 1.5 to miles. The inspector notes tnat "a direct VFR flight to Lasham would have saved considerable time, and it may be that this was what the pilot had in mind. However,in the circumstances, the decision to attempt the flight below cloud was bad airmanship and the fundamental cause of the accident." The aircraft struck trees near the top of the 644ft Loxhill a mile north of Dunsfold. Both pilots were killed but the reportconsiders that the degree of injury received (almost entirely to the head and upper torso) "would have been con- siderably lessened ifshoulder harnesses and protective helmets had been worn." Only lap straps were fitted to the Apache