Tributes have been paid to the elderly couple who were killed when their single engine aircraft crashed into a field.
It is believed the couple were flying to Stoke Golding Airfield, near Hinckley, when their Rans S6-ES crashed a few hundred yards short of the grass airstrip on Sunday evening.
The Air Safety Network website, which monitors air accidents worldwide, said the 13-year-old plane had taken off from an airstrip in Twycross and was heading for Stoke Golding before the accident.
Yesterday, Stoke Golding Airfield co-owner Tim Jinks paid tribute to the couple.
He said: “Everyone at Stoke Golding Airfield was deeply saddened about the tragic accident involving our fellow aviators and friends from another Leicestershire airfield on Sunday evening and our thoughts go out to their family.”
It is understood the victims’ relatives have urged the club to go-ahead with an annual event this weekend, when scores of aviation enthusiasts are expected to fly in for the 10th Stoke Golding Stakeout.
Mr Jinks said: “Our annual event is unaffected by this tragic accident.
Unfortunately, cars and planes do occasionally come to grief with sad results and if every event was curtailed as a result the world would be an even sadder place.”
It is understood the couple’s aircraft may have suffered engine trouble before it crashed at 6.45pm.
The plane flipped over on impact and the pair were declared dead at the scene.
An eyewitness said he heard a bang as the plane flew overhead at about 2,000 to 3,000ft.
The aircraft then began to lose height about six miles before it hit the ground.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an inquiry into the deaths of the couple.
Police have produced a file on the incident for the coroner.
A spokesman for the coroner said the couple were yet to be formally identified.
He said an inquest into their deaths should be opened before the end of the week.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call them on 101.
Source: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment