A Gatwick-based airline pilot killed during an airshow display may have been flying too slowly, according to an official report.

Guy Bancroft-Wilson was killed when his Second World War fighter plane crashed in view of 50,000 people at Biggin Hill airfield, Kent.

Only two minutes before the fatal plunge, father-of-three Mr Bancroft-Wilson, 43, had lost and then recovered control of his American Kingcobra aircraft.

But then the British Airways captain, lost control again and this time crashed nose-down.

Formerly in the RAF, Mr Bancroft-Wilson had also been a member of the Red Arrows display team.

The accident happened on the afternoon of June 3, 2001.

After the earlier loss of control, it was "difficult to understand why the pilot, who was experienced and practised in the display environment, continued with his display", said the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

It added: "Analysis of the aircraft speeds from video footage showed that the final manoeuvre was probably entered with insufficient speed for it to be completed successfully.

"The lack of speed was most likely evidence of a continuing loss of energy during the display, partially as a consequence of the earlier failed manoeuvre."

Built in 1944, the Kingcobra was taking part in a display with two other American Second World War fighter aircraft.

Mr Bancroft-Wilson flew Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft for BA.