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Island plane crash victims named Island plane crash victims named
(10 minutes later)
Four people killed when a light aircraft crashed into a field after take-off on the Isle of Wight have been named by police. A father and his teenage son were among four people killed when a light aircraft crashed into a field after take-off on the Isle of Wight.
Martin Rhodes, 48, of Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, and Simon John Marshall, 51, of Lichfield, Staffordshire, were both killed. Pilot Martin Rhodes, 48, of Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, and Simon John Marshall, 51, of Lichfield, Staffordshire, were both killed.
Tony Birch, 52, and his 15-year-old son Ryan, from Pattingham, Wolverhampton, also died in the crash.Tony Birch, 52, and his 15-year-old son Ryan, from Pattingham, Wolverhampton, also died in the crash.
The plane was leaving the airport at Sandown on Sunday when it crashed.The plane was leaving the airport at Sandown on Sunday when it crashed.
The Piper Cherokee had flown from Tatenhill Airfield in Staffordshire in the morning. Mr Rhodes' partner, Kerry Raftery, said she and their two sons were heartbroken.
She said: "Martin loved to fly and spent as much time at the controls of his planes as possible.
"He worked incredibly hard to build up the car repair business he set up when he was just 19 years old and had even built two airplanes in his spare time.
"We have two sons, aged 10 and 23, and it is difficult to describe the emotions we are all feeling.
"Our family and friends are helping us to be strong but underneath we are all heartbroken."
Wreckage of the plane is being examined by investigators
The Piper Cherokee had flown from Tatenhill Airfield in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in the morning.
It was leaving the Isle of Wight Airport bound for Pontivy Airfield in Brittany, France, when it came down near Canteen Road, Apse Heath.It was leaving the Isle of Wight Airport bound for Pontivy Airfield in Brittany, France, when it came down near Canteen Road, Apse Heath.
We are not in a position to speculate about the cause of the accident Department for Transport spokesman
A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: "Shortly after the plane had taken off from Sandown, it appears to have experienced difficulties and subsequently crashed in a field close to the runway.A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: "Shortly after the plane had taken off from Sandown, it appears to have experienced difficulties and subsequently crashed in a field close to the runway.
"The cause of the crash remains unknown at this stage.""The cause of the crash remains unknown at this stage."
Wreckage from the crash is being salvaged by investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).Wreckage from the crash is being salvaged by investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
A spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said the remains of the plane would be taken to the AAIB's headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire.
No black boxNo black box
A spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said the remains of the plane would be taken to the AAIB's headquarters in Farnborough, Hampshire.
He said two investigators - an engineer and an expert in flying and operating aircraft - were carrying out the inquiry.He said two investigators - an engineer and an expert in flying and operating aircraft - were carrying out the inquiry.
He added: "We are not in a position to speculate about the cause of the accident.He added: "We are not in a position to speculate about the cause of the accident.
"Our investigators will want to look at the wreckage and bring it back to our headquarters where they will piece it back together."Our investigators will want to look at the wreckage and bring it back to our headquarters where they will piece it back together.
"They will also be looking at the aircraft and pilot's log, flight plan and air traffic control records as well as any eye witness statements.""They will also be looking at the aircraft and pilot's log, flight plan and air traffic control records as well as any eye witness statements."
The spokesman added that this type of plane would not have a black box recorder, which larger aircraft are fitted with to record its communications and movements.The spokesman added that this type of plane would not have a black box recorder, which larger aircraft are fitted with to record its communications and movements.
'Tragic accident'
He said the inquiry would take about two months to complete.He said the inquiry would take about two months to complete.
A spokesman for the Isle of Wight Airport at Sandown said: "This is a tragic accident."
The spokesman added that the aircraft had arrived from Tatenhill in Burton-on-Trent and had come to the airport previously but it was not a regular visitor.
He also said the airport would continue to operate normally following the accident.
Scheduled services to London and The Channel Islands operate from Sandown, and an air taxi service is also based at the airport.