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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Two die in light aircraft crash | Two die in light aircraft crash |
| (2 days 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 on the plane 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 but emergency services later said it was thought the couple in the plane would have died on impact. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| They were thought to be heading to Jersey for the Easter weekend. | They were thought to be heading to Jersey for the Easter weekend. |
| 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. | 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. |
| He said: "He was an amazing guy. I'm shocked and saddened that he is no longer with us." | He said: "He was an amazing guy. I'm shocked and saddened that he is no longer with us." |
| The four-seater, single-engine aircraft came down in trees on a steep hill known locally as The Hangers. | The four-seater, single-engine aircraft came down in trees on a steep hill known locally as The Hangers. |
| Superintendent John Happel of Hampshire Police describes what happened | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Bad visibility' | '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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |