This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7147344.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Police name two air crash victims | Police name two air crash victims |
| (1 day later) | |
| Two men who were killed in a collision involving two light aircraft over Staffordshire have been named. | Two men who were killed in a collision involving two light aircraft over Staffordshire have been named. |
| 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. | 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. |
| His passenger in the two-seater plane David Arthur Sims, 67, of Melton, Stoke-on-Trent, also died on Sunday. | His passenger in the two-seater plane David Arthur Sims, 67, of Melton, Stoke-on-Trent, also died on Sunday. |
| The other pilot guided his plane about 25 miles to East Midlands Airport where it made an emergency landing. | The other pilot guided his plane about 25 miles to East Midlands Airport where it made an emergency landing. |
| 'Collisions rare' | 'Collisions rare' |
| 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. | 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. | 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 750 XL. They all escaped serious injury. | |
| Sgt Johnston said: "We were flying from Cark, near Flookburgh, to Cranfield in Bedfordshire. | Sgt Johnston said: "We were flying from Cark, near Flookburgh, to Cranfield in Bedfordshire. |
| The other plane made an emergency landing | 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 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 would 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 were called to the field off Lea Lane in Admaston where the Luscombe came down. | Staffordshire Police were called to the field off Lea Lane in Admaston where the Luscombe came down. |
| 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." |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service sent crews to the scene but the two men were pronounced dead by paramedics. | West Midlands Ambulance Service sent crews to the scene but the two men were pronounced dead by paramedics. |