Sibson plane crash: Pilot killed after power line collision ... hotel diners “saw aircraft come down” (UK)

The plane crashed in a field after reportedly flying into an electricity pylon

7pm: MANAGERS at a hotel near the site of a plane crash at Sibson Airfield this afternoon say diners saw the aircraft come down, while polce have said the A1 will be closed overnight.

The A1 is currently shut and will remain closed overnight after the light aircraft collided with power lines at Sibson Airfield at 2.15pm. The plane came down on the western-edge of the A1 at Water Newton.

It has been confirmed that the plane had one pilot and no passengers. National Grid engineers are in attendance to survey the damage to the power line.

Mark Prime, business manager of the Sibson Inn Hotel on the A1, said a guest alerted him to the crash which happened about 200 yards from the hotel.

Mr Prime said: “We were alerted by a diner who saw the crash. The hotel manager called the airfield who had already called the ambulance. The air ambulance was on the scene pretty quickly.

“Diners saw the plane clip the cable and they thought they saw the wing come off. The plane came down in a hedge about 200 yards south of the hotel. There was no fire or smoke.

“We get planes coming by us all day long. They have to manoeuvre over the pylons and look like they are flying pretty close. It’s one of the hazards you have to deal with when you land.”

Hotel manager Simon Black has clocked up about 20 hours’ flying time at Sibson Airfield and knows the approach over the pylons well.

He said: “The diners ran in shouting that a plane had dropped out of the sky. You can see where the plane hit the the cable.

“As a student at the airfield I hated flying across those pylons because they are so tall.

“The top cable is a single strand and is especially difficult to see in bright sunshine. The pilot would have been flying into the sun.

“It’s very easy to get it wrong. I am surprised they hadn’t wrapped it in red and white tape to make it more visible. You have to drop down quickly after the pylons to catch the runway.”

The crash has caused chaos in the area and visitors to Burghley Horse Trials are being told to find alternative routes other than A1 following the crash. The event will remain open later than planned to enable visitors to avoid potential congestion.

Electricity wires over the road were damaged, causing police to close the road in both directions between the A47 junction at Wansford and junction 17 at Haddon near the A1(M) Peterborough Services.


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