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Inquiry after fatal plane crash | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Investigators have been examining the wreckage of a plane after it crashed near Oxford leaving two men on board dead. | |
The light aircraft crashed into a snowy field near the A4095 Grove Road in Bladon, near Oxford Airport, on Friday. | The light aircraft crashed into a snowy field near the A4095 Grove Road in Bladon, near Oxford Airport, on Friday. |
Two men, aged 44 and 54, were killed in the crash, which is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). | |
The plane crashed at about 1400 GMT soon after it had taken off. | |
Eyewitness Michael McPeak, of Orchard Field Lane, was in his garden when he saw the accident happen. | |
'Flames 30-ft high' | |
"It looked like he was trying to pull the aircraft up but unfortunately crashed into the ground," he told BBC News. | |
"Within five seconds it burst into flames which were 30 feet high." | |
The plane, which the AAIB confirmed was a Piper PA-31, was not based at the airport, but had been grounded since Christmas because of recent poor weather conditions. | |
Thames Valley Police said that the wreckage was due to be recovered later. | |
'Plane destroyed' | |
Insp Paul Wince, of Thames Valley Police, said: "The plane was completely destroyed in the crash, both by the impact and fire. | Insp Paul Wince, of Thames Valley Police, said: "The plane was completely destroyed in the crash, both by the impact and fire. |
"We will begin a stage of reconstructing what happened and recovering the wreckage of the aircraft." | "We will begin a stage of reconstructing what happened and recovering the wreckage of the aircraft." |
An AAIB spokesperson said that a team was investigating "all aspects" of the accident. | |
She added: "It is not possible to speculate on the cause of the accident at this stage." | She added: "It is not possible to speculate on the cause of the accident at this stage." |