Pilot dies after plane crash near airfield

ByArchie FarmerSouth West and Zhara SimpsonDevon

Updated 18 minutes ago

The pilot of a plane has died after it crashed on a farm near an airfield, emergency services have confirmed.

Police, firefighters and ambulances were called to Dunkeswell Aerodrome in East Devon after the incident was reported at about 10:00 BST on Friday.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the pilot, believed to be a woman in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said nobody else was on board at the time and the pilot's next of kin had been informed.

Police said it was working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Branch to "thoroughly investigate" the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Supt Jo Arundale said: "We recognise it is a very sad incident and we are appealing to the public not to speculate regarding the crash.

"Furthermore, we would like to ask anybody who may have relevant footage to get in touch with us and not to post it online."

Arundale added the force's thoughts were with the friends and family of the person involved.

Anyone with relevant footage has been asked to contact police.

Devon and Somerset Fire Service added that several crews were in attendance at the scene.

Dunkeswell Aerodrome said its "sincere condolences go to the family of the pilot", adding its thoughts are with everyone involved.

A spokesperson said: "There was an off-airfield incident involving a visiting light aircraft approaching Dunkeswell Aerodrome.

"Sadly, the pilot, the only person on board, sustained fatal injuries."

Connetts Farm founder Nick Stevens confirmed the small aircraft crashed on the farm.

Stevens said he was working nearby when he saw a "serious fire" on the farm which he thought was one of his barns, but when he arrived he discovered it was the light aircraft.

Emergency services had already been informed when he arrived at the scene and he said road closures were in place in the area.

The Dunkeswell Aerodrome is a former RAF site located in the Blackdown Hills area of Devon, close to the county's border with Somerset.

According to the aerodrome's website, the site was originally built to be a US naval base during World War Two.

It is also claimed to be the highest licensed airfield in the UK.

One witness called Johnny, who was on Marcus Road, which is south of the airfield, said he saw "a lot of black smoke" east of the airfield at about 11:00.

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