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Pilot is killed as aircraft crashes
THE PILOT of a light aircraft has died after his plane was believed to have plunged into a remote stretch of Fenland river near Whittlesey yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.
THE PILOT of a light aircraft has died after his plane was believed to have plunged into a remote stretch of Fenland river near Whittlesey yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.The single-seater plane crashed at around 3.15pm on Sunday near Eldernell Lane, Coates, to the east of Whittlesey.
Today, (Monday) the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is carrying out an investigation and the coroner has been informed.
Reports suggest that a nearby farmer contacted emergency services after he heard the sound of aircraft noise overhead, followed by a loud crash. It is believed the plane landed in an area of the River Nene known as Morton's Leam.
Update: Investigation into light aircraft tragedy, from the ET, by Asha Mehta, Tuesday, 10 November.
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A police helicopter was dispatched to the scene and fire crews and paramedics helped with the recovery effort. It is understood police believe the pilot is a local man.
Last night, officers were working with the Air Accident Investigation team to recover the body, clear the wreckage and place a cordon around the area, which is surrounded by washland.
They were also contacting nearby farmers, some of whom use light aircraft to travel because the setting is so isolated, to help confirm the pilot's identity.
A police spokeswoman said: "A light aircraft came down at 3.15pm.
"There was one fatality, the pilot of the plane. There was no one else in the plane. The police are supporting air accident investigators at the scene. We will help man the cordon while they carry out the investigation."
She said officers would remain there overnight on Sunday and into this morning.
The body of the pilot was removed from the scene yesterday evening and will be passed to the coroner.
The identity of the pilot is not expected to be released until later today. There was shock from the nearby community after the news broke.
Councillor Pam Potts, who represents Benwick, Coates and Eastrea, lives about 800 yards away from the scene.
Although she was in Whittlesey at the Remembrance Sunday service at the time, she believes she saw the doomed plane fly overhead before the crash.
She said: "My husband and I were at the cenotaph in Whittlesey and we looked up and saw a plane go over at around that time. It makes me feel a chill to think about it.
"Morton's Leam is not very wide so it makes you wonder what happened.
"We see these aircraft going over all the time, flying over the wash area and always look up to see if it's someone we know.
"We don't think this one was be- cause it was white and the aircraft owner we know has a yellow one.
"It's just very sad." Mayor of Whittlesey Cllr Derek Stebbing said: "I'm shocked. What is more shocking is that in that area, there is at least one farmer with a light aircraft, so I'm worried the man who died could be local.
"It is a very remote area and a few farmers have houses there. But it is quite sparse.
"On the Whittlesey side of the area, there is just washland."
He added: "It's a sad thing to have happen on a day when services were held to remember those who."
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 11 February 2012
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Light sleet
Temperature: -5 C to -1 C
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Wind direction: South west
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