PILOT Andrew Hill committed a “cardinal sin” during the loop stunt that led to the Shoreham Airshow crash, according to an expert.

Ex-Royal Navy pilot Jonathon Whaley, who reviewed footage of the crash, made the comment in a report of his findings, said Tom Kark QC, prosecuting.

Mr Kark told the Old Bailey yesterday that a “catalogue of errors placed the aircraft in a position where a crash was inevitable, and at the crucial point when Mr Hill committed to the downward part of the loop there was a serious and obvious risk of death to those on the ground, a risk that was tragically realised”.

The errors were summarised to the jury:

- The aircraft entered the loop manoeuvre too slow and did not have enough “energy” to reach the top

- Hill failed to apply full thrust on the approach to the loop as he should have done

- The aircraft did not reach sufficient height at the peak of the loop - called the apex

- Hill made a “conscious decision” to add flap and begin a descent despite not reaching the height needed

- The plane had insufficient speed at the apex

- Hill “failed to execute an escape manoeuvre in the time available” but tried to pull through the loop, which Mr Whaley described as a “cardinal sin”.

The court also heard that none of the airshow’s flying committee - which organised and oversaw the event - sent out a “stop, stop, stop call” to bring Hill’s display to a halt.

Rodney Dean, one of the organisers responsible for the safety of displays at the show, known as the flying display director (FDD), said he did not see the crash because he was talking to pilots in another part of the airfield.

Giving evidence, he said: “I saw the (Hawker) Hunter arrive. I saw it do its flight past which didn’t concern me at all.”

He said he did not see or hear the crash but as soon as he learned about it over the radio system he returned to the area, adding that it was “immediately” clear after seeing smoke that it was a “major disaster”.

He also told jurors that Hill did not discuss what stunts he would perform in the display with organisers beforehand as it was not necessary under the regulations, adding: “There’s no requirement for him to discuss it in detail.”

David Evans, another member of the airshow’s flying committee, watched the display but told the court: “When we realised something was going to happen it was too late.”

The 54-year-old, of Sandon, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, is standing trial at the Old Bailey after denying 11 charges of manslaughter by gross negligence.

The trial continues.