Hislop: Accident verdict

Steve Hislop’s mother has been angered by a report that he may have become confused by the controls of his helicopter before crashing to his death – according to Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper.

MCN is conducting its own thorough investigation of the events that led to the superbike champion’s death. We’ll bring you the indepth analysis you won’t find anywhere else only in our May 18 issue.

Margaret Hislop is quoted as being “very unhappy” with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch report, which concludes that his experience as a motorcyclist may have contributed as the throttle on a copter works in the opposite direction to that on a bike.

The report adds: “The control loss may have resulted from spatial disorientation and mishandling of the controls but the possibility that aircraft malfunction contributed could not be eliminated.”

Margaret Hislop is hoping this is not the end of the matter. She is calling for an official fatal accident inquiry.

Hislop, 11 times Isle of Man TT champion and reigning British Superbike champ at the time of his death in July 2003, died in a helicopter crash near Hawick, Scotland.

Click here to read the Daily Record’s report (external site)

Click here for BBC Scotland report

Click here for AAIB report itself