Pleasure flight ends in tragedy as microlight crashes (From Gazette Series)

Pleasure flight ends in tragedy as microlight crashes

A PLEASURE flight in a microlight ended in tragedy when it came down in bad weather on Wednesday killing both people on board.

At around 7.15pm, the fixed-wing microlight crashed on land near the Cotswold Edge Golf Club, Wotton-under-Edge, close to the B4058.

Fire appliances from Dursley, Stroud and Nailsworth attended the scene, including a rescue appliance and an environmental protection unit.

Chief Insp David Peake, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "Police, ambulance and fire services were immediately in attendance and discovered the bodies of two people inside the aircraft. Tragically, the pilot and passenger did not survive the crash."

It is believed that one of the victims was a serving Gloucestershire police officer and that the microlight had taken off from an airfield in Wiltshire.

At 10.30am yesterday the police held a press conference close to the scene of the tragedy. Police spokeswoman Zo Young said: "Until the bodies are removed and are formally identified it is impossible to say who they are.

"What I can confirm is that the passenger was a 46-year-old man from Gloucestershire and the pilot was a 48-year-old man from Wiltshire."

Eyewitnesses said the aircraft had been circling before it crashed.

A spokesman from Cotswold Edge Golf Club said "It was very foggy at the time and visibility was poor. Some of our members were out playing and heard its engine suddenly stall or cut out. Then they heard a bang and they came running into the clubhouse to raise the alarm.

"One of our members who was out playing quite close to the crash was first on the scene and did what he could to help but I gather the two people on board were beyond help."

Yesterday morning the Air Accidents Investigation Board started an inquiry into the crash and the area around the site was cordoned off to allow a detailed search to be carried out. The coroner has been informed.