Man Killed And Two Others Injured In Crash

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an inquiry into an apparent collision involving two light aircraft near Leicester Airport which led to the death of one pilot.

Reports have revealed that a red monoplane which had just taken off from the site and a yellow biplane was preparing to land when the incident happened on Sunday afternoon (December 18th).

The Taylorcraft BC-12D and Pitt S-2 Special came down near Gartree Road in Great Stretton and while one pilot was killed, the other two suffered minor injuries. Police and authorities are urging anyone in the area to come forward with information which could help with their inquiries.

Aviation lawyers at Irwin Mitchell act for people injured in air accidents in the UK and abroad, as well as the families of those who have been killed in such incidents.

Jim Morris, a former RAF pilot who is a Partner in Irwin Mitchell’s specialist aviation law team, said: “The AAIB will need to investigate all aspects of this in order to determine just how this terrible incident came to occur.

“Only a handful of details have so far been revealed in relation to the crash, but it is vital that every effort is made to discover what happened and – more importantly – how it could have been avoided.

“Authorities will no doubt consider a range of issues, including radio transmissions between the pilots and Air Traffic Control, the visibility and weather conditions at the time and the procedures applicable to light aircraft for takeoff, landing approaches and whilst operating in the visual circuit at the Airport.

“Mid-air collisions are an incredibly serious flight safety concern with catastrophic consequences -  lessons need to be learned from this tragedy and appropriate procedures implemented to prevent a similar accident happening again.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the pilot.”