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Air crash deaths inquiry begins Police name two air crash victims
(about 4 hours later)
Air crash investigators are examining a site in the Midlands where two people were killed in a collision involving two light aircraft. Two men who were killed in a collision involving two light aircraft over Staffordshire have been named.
One of the dead is Peter Leigh, 60, of Baldwin's Gate, Staffordshire, BBC Radio Stoke has learned. Peter Leigh, 60, of the Green, Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was the pilot of a Luscombe Silvaire which crashed to the ground near Blithfield Reservoir.
The plane crashed into a field near Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire on Sunday. His passenger in the two-seater plane David Arthur Sims, 67, of Melton, Stoke-on-Trent, also died on Sunday.
The other aircraft landed at East Midlands Airport where three people on board scrambled to safety. The other pilot guided his plane about 25 miles to East Midlands Airport where it made an emergency landing.
Cumbria Police officer Sgt Rupert Johnston was among those to survive.
'Collisions rare''Collisions rare'
He said: "We were flying from Cark, near Flookburgh, to Cranfield in Bedfordshire. Staffordshire Police said on Monday afternoon they had yet to formally identify the bodies but were in a position to name Mr Leigh, of Lymewood Cottage, and Mr Sims, of Caistor Close.
They shared a common interest in flying, police said, and had taken off from a farm in Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, but it is not known where they were heading.
A police sergeant, Rupert Johnston, was flying with his 10-year-old son James and pilot Mike Carruthers in the other plane, a Pacific Aerospace 350 XL. They all escaped serious injury.
Sgt Johnston said: "We were flying from Cark, near Flookburgh, to Cranfield in Bedfordshire.
The other plane made an emergency landing
"At around midday, as we were flying over the Midlands, we were hit by what we now know was another plane.""At around midday, as we were flying over the Midlands, we were hit by what we now know was another plane."
He added: "My thoughts are with the families of the two who died.He added: "My thoughts are with the families of the two who died.
"We were on a pre-arranged trip with my son James, aged 10, and my friend the pilot Mike Carruthers, who is also from Cumbria." "We were on a pre-arranged trip with my son James and my friend the pilot Mike Carruthers, who is also from Cumbria."
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the crash examinations.The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the crash examinations.
Tim Atkinson, of the AAIB, said a detailed technical examination of the scene was set to take place. Tim Atkinson, of the AAIB, said a detailed technical examination of the scene would take place.
He said it was too early to say exactly what had caused the collision. Weather conditions were clear and visibility was fine.He said it was too early to say exactly what had caused the collision. Weather conditions were clear and visibility was fine.
"Aircraft do collide," said Mr Atkinson. "Mid-air collisions are mercifully very rare, a great deal of general aviation is done on the principle that the pilot keeps a good look-out.""Aircraft do collide," said Mr Atkinson. "Mid-air collisions are mercifully very rare, a great deal of general aviation is done on the principle that the pilot keeps a good look-out."
'Bodies seen''Bodies seen'
He also confirmed the planes were on private leisure flights and neither was being directed by air traffic control.He also confirmed the planes were on private leisure flights and neither was being directed by air traffic control.
Staffordshire Police said they were called to the field off Lea Lane in Admaston where the plane, a two-seater Luscombe Silvaire, came down, about 25 miles away from East Midlands Airport. Staffordshire Police were called to the field off Lea Lane in Admaston where the Luscombe came down.
The other plane made an emergency landing
A farmer who spotted the wreckage said the plane had caught fire and he alerted the emergency services.A farmer who spotted the wreckage said the plane had caught fire and he alerted the emergency services.
Michael Sargeant, the 64-year-old owner of Rectory Farm, said: "I saw smoke down my field. I went down in a Land Rover, I pulled right up to it. The plane was burning but almost burned out.Michael Sargeant, the 64-year-old owner of Rectory Farm, said: "I saw smoke down my field. I went down in a Land Rover, I pulled right up to it. The plane was burning but almost burned out.
"I could see bodies there but I could see there was nothing I could do. I came straight back and rang 999.""I could see bodies there but I could see there was nothing I could do. I came straight back and rang 999."
In a statement the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The service despatched a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer, a doctor, an ambulance and a team of community first responders to the scene immediately. West Midlands Ambulance Service sent crews to the scene but the two men were pronounced dead by paramedics.
"On arrival, two people were confirmed deceased at the scene by ambulance service staff."
The other aircraft was not immediately thought to have been badly damaged in the landing and the three people on board were being checked over by medics, added the spokeswoman.
The runway was closed after the emergency landing.
Nine flights were diverted to Birmingham International Airport and two were cancelled while the runway was closed. It re-opened shortly after 1500 GMT on Sunday.