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Two die in light aircraft crash Two die in light aircraft crash
(about 2 hours later)
A man and a woman have been killed in a light aircraft crash in Hampshire.A man and a woman have been killed in a light aircraft crash in Hampshire.
They were onboard a private Piper fixed wing single engine aircraft on its way from Hertfordshire to Jersey.They were onboard a private Piper fixed wing single engine aircraft on its way from Hertfordshire to Jersey.
It crashed into a wooded hillside between Steep and Froxfield, near Petersfield, at about 1230 BST and caught fire.It crashed into a wooded hillside between Steep and Froxfield, near Petersfield, at about 1230 BST and caught fire.
A member of the public who saw the crash alerted the emergency services. Police said both people onboard were confirmed dead at the scene. A member of the public who saw the crash alerted the emergency services. Police said both people on the plane were confirmed dead at the scene.
Two coastguard helicopters and a search team were called in to try to locate any survivors. Two coastguard helicopters and a search team were called in to try to locate any survivors but emergency services later said it was thought the couple in the plane would have died on impact.
Died on impact It was raining quite hard but then I think it's quite dense woodland so I suppose it has hit the trees Simon Bridger, local resident
A Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said the aircraft was believed to be a four-seater and added: "The aircraft was reported to have come down in trees on a hillside. It seems like it hit the hillside. They were thought to be heading to Jersey for the Easter weekend.
They are working in incredibly difficult conditions, it's heavily wooded Hampshire Fire Service spokesman A spokesman for the North London Flying School, based at Panshanger Airfield in Cole Green near Hertford, said the dead man was a member of the school and the aircraft in the crash was based at the airfield.
"Initially it looked like there was a possibility one of the occupants was missing from the crash site. He said: "He was an amazing guy. I'm shocked and saddened that he is no longer with us."
"We went up to help with the search and help paramedics to the scene or take any survivors to hospital but subsequently they were located at the scene." The four-seater, single-engine aircraft came down in trees on a steep hill known locally as The Hangers.
Ambulance crews were stood down before they arrived after being informed by police that the people in the plane had died, apparently on impact. Simon Bridger, owner of Ashford Farm, near the scene of the crash, said a Polish stockman working at his farm had heard shouting and then a bang like a gunshot as the plane hit the ground.
The scene has been cordoned off while the cause of the crash is being investigated. 'Bad visibility'
Mr Bridger said: "There was no smoke or anything. It was raining quite hard but then I think it's quite dense woodland so I suppose it has hit the trees.
"I think it has come over The Hangers and driven straight into The Hanger not knowing it was there, because it was raining.
"It's a bit of a shock, we are really out in the countryside here.
"You very rarely see a police car going through the lanes but all of a sudden you have police, helicopters and fire trucks."
A Solent Coastguard watch officer said flying conditions were very difficult.
"The coastguard helicopter had to fly very low in bad visibility, with rain and low cloud, to locate the aircraft," he said.
Hampshire Police said firefighters had to use ropes to stop the wreckage sliding down the slope of the hill.
Ambulance crews were stood down before they arrived after being informed by police that the people in the plane had died.
The scene was cordoned off while the wreckage was inspected and the cause of the crash was investigated.
About 24 firefighters battled to put out the flames on the aircraft, a Hampshire Fire Service spokesman said.About 24 firefighters battled to put out the flames on the aircraft, a Hampshire Fire Service spokesman said.
A search and rescue team was also sent to the scene with heavy machinery to lift the wreckage and help investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).A search and rescue team was also sent to the scene with heavy machinery to lift the wreckage and help investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
He said: "They are working in incredibly difficult conditions, it's heavily wooded.He said: "They are working in incredibly difficult conditions, it's heavily wooded.
"There was a fire when the three crews arrived. The fire is now out but our firefighters are standing by to make sure there are no flare-ups and the site is safe until such time as the AAIB arrive." "There was a fire when the three crews arrived. The fire is now out but our firefighters are standing by to make sure there are no flare-ups and the site is safe."
A spokesman for the flying school at Panshanger Aerodrome at Cole Green, near Hertford, confirmed to the BBC that the plane had taken off from their runway.