THE doomed Hawker Hunter’s fatal loop-the-loop was performed hundreds of feet lower than the pilot’s licence allowed before it crashed into the A27 at the Shoreham Airshow, according to a report.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) bulletin said former British Airways pilot Andrew Hill was 200ft above sea level when he attempted the aerobatic manoeuvre in the 1950s jet. But his licence only permitted him to perform stunts at a minimum height of 500ft.

The 51-year-old was seriously injured in the crash which killed 11 people on August 22. He is in a critical but stable condition and is still being treated at a specialist hospital.

The report said: “It [the jet] commenced a descending left turn to 200ft amsl, [above mean sea level] approaching the display line at an angle of about 45 degrees.

“The aircraft then pitched up into a manoeuvre with both a vertical component and roll to the left.

“During the descent the aircraft accelerated and the nose was raised but the aircraft did not achieve level flight before it struck the westbound carriageway of the A27.”

His current Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)-issued licence, valid from August 27, 2014, for a year, allowed him to fly Hawker Hunter jets among others. His Display Authorisation, also issued by the CAA, allowed him to display a Hawker Hunter to a minimum height of 100ft during flypasts and 500ft during standard category aerobatic manoeuvres – such as those for flying displays and special events.

This means, according to the report, the 51-year-old was flying 300ft lower than he was permitted to.

Aviation experts and colleagues previously vouched for Mr Hill’s skill and professionalism as a pilot, with many saying he was extremely experienced.

According the AAIB report, he had 14,249 hours of flying experience, 40 of which were in a Hawker Hunter.

He had flown 53 hours in 28 days before the crash and 115 hours in the last 90 days. He was trained by the Royal Air Force, serving as an instructor and fast jet pilot before entering commercial aviation.

There were “no reported defects” with the aircraft – a single-engine military jet trainer – before it took off at North Weald Airfield in Essex, the report also said.

The single-seat aircraft was built in 1955 but modified to a two-seater in 1959 – and both were ejector seats. It remained in military service until 1997. The aircraft had a permit to fly and was valid until March 10, 2016. There were no technical defects recorded in the log.

The report said: “He requested the aircraft to be refuelled to full and this was carried out by two ground crew. The pilot was described as being in good spirits and looking forward to the flight.

“The engine start was normal. The take off run was longer than usual, probably due to the ambient conditions.”

Recording data analysed by the AAIB did not identify any “abnormal indications” so far.

Footage and audio from the cockpit, as well as films and pictures taken by members of the public, are being looked at.

The report details how the aircraft split into four main pieces after the impact – which also struck a crash barrier, road signs, traffic lights, as well as the victims, cars and bikes.

The impact caused fuel and fuel vapour to spill from the tanks and ignite causing a fireball as both the pilot and his seat were thrown from the cockpit.

“The investigation continues to determine if the pilot attempted to initiate ejection or if the canopy and the pilot’s seat were liberated as a result of impact damage to the cockpit.”