Two dead in plane crash near Welshpool
Posted: January 18, 2012 Filed under: Accidents & Incidents, Welshpool Airport | Tags: Accident, Bob Jones, Crash, Incident, Leighton, Long Mountain, Welshpool, Welshpool Airport 1 Comment »- Walesonline
- Jan 18 2012
TWO people died after a light aircraft crashed into a mountain in Mid Wales this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the incident involving an aircraft at Long Mountain, in Leighton, two miles from Welshpool Airport, at 12.40pm.
One of the deceased has been named locally as Bob Jones, one of the founders of Welshpool Airport and a very well-respected local businessman.
Police, fire and ambulance crews all attended the scene and based themselves at a nearby farm with the crash site cordoned off.
Unconfirmed reports from witnesses suggest the pair may have been travelling in a seven or an 11-seater blue and white private business jet that got into difficulties because of low fog and mist as approaching the airport to land.
Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Inspector Martin Tavener said: “This incident involved a light aircraft which has come down on Long Mountain.
“We have now located next-of-kin and a family liaison officer has been appointed.”
He said the Department for Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Branch attended the scene and will investigate the incident.
The crash happened in a rural area popular with hikers and pony trekkers.
Welshpool is home to Mid Wales Airport which has a flying club.
Nearby farmer, Alec Williams, was working in woods a quarter of a mile from the area where the aircraft crashed.
He said: “I saw helicopters going over what we call Lord’s Building at around midday and heard lots of sirens.
“It is only an ordinary farm building – it isn’t very high – but it is right on the peak of Long Mountain.
“I went up there and was told that two people had died.
“There was misty low cloud or fog conditions up on Long Mountain at the time.”
“Police have said it is a light aircraft but locals are saying it could have been an 11-seater private plane.
“I think there are only three 11-seater jets at Welshpool Airport and they are owned by local business people.”
Mr Williams and his daughter Helena paid tribute to their friend Bob Jones.
Miss Williams said: “Bob was a true gentleman in everything he did and was a very experienced pilot and very careful. I played badminton with him. Our thoughts are with Linda and his family, we are very sad for them. When we heard about it, we were just hoping it wasn’t Bob.”
Meanwhile, local farmer Bryan Morris, 38, said the plane crashed into a field around a mile from his house and he thought the wreckage covered a large area.
He said: “Part of it is in the field and part of it is in the woods so it’s obviously broken up quite a bit.
“I haven’t been over there myself as I didn’t want to get in the way.
“There’s still a van and a couple of other vehicles over there but that’s nothing compared to earlier.”
Mr Morris said he did not see or hear the crash, even though he was outside at the time.
He said: “I was outside in the field and saw some smoke but didn’t think anything of it.
“I just thought someone was having a fire.
“Then two helicopters landed, so I knew then something must have happened.
“They were soon joined by lots of fire engines and police.
“I’ve just heard that two people have died but I don’t know any more than that.”
One farm worker told WalesOnline they heard the plane flying low over Long Mountain and they thought some children at Welshpool High School may have seen the plane before it crashed.
A walker who was in the area after the crash said: “We have seen wreckage of a blue and white plane in woods on the Welshpool side of Long Mountain.
“It appears that the aircraft could have clipped the pine trees in woodland on a line flying roughly from Chirbury to Welshpool.
“It looks as if part of a wing came off.
“The aircraft appears to have clipped the top of woodland and got into trouble on the approach to Welshpool airport.”
A spokeswoman for Wales Air Ambulance said the call came through at 12.44pm and the air ambulance arrived at the scene at 12.53pm.
She said: “We can confirm that the Wales Ambulance Service did attend the scene of the aircraft crash in Welshpool and two people were declared dead at the scene.”
Mid Wales Airport, near Welshpool, would not comment on the crash but two police officers manned the gate and it closed for the day following the incident.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines attended the scene.
A spokesman said: “Emergency services have been dealing with an incident involving a small aircraft which has come down in the Leighton area of Welshpool.
“Two appliances from Welshpool, one appliance from Llanfair Caereinion, and a Land Rover pump from Llanfyllin have attended the incident.
“Two breathing apparatus sets have been in use and a low pressure hose reel jet.”
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