A pilot has died after a light aircraft crashed into an industrial estate in Derbyshire. Emergency services were called to reports that an aircraft had come down in Chesterfield on Sunday morning. Derbyshire police confirmed that the pilot was the only person onboard and had died in the crash. His family has been informed. The force said an investigation into the circumstances was under way. Data from the website Flightradar showed that the last signal received from the aircraft was at 8.03am on Sunday at an altitude of 600ft (180 metres). The aircraft, believed to be an Evektor SportStar built in 2022, appeared to have been in the air for less than 10 minutes. It had twice circled the village of Old Whittington, two miles north of Chesterfield, before coming down on Sheepbridge Lane. Police had sealed off roads surrounding a municipal depot run by Veolia UK as emergency services responded to the incident. A spokesperson for Derbyshire fire and rescue said: “Fire control operators received a call at 09.05 hours today [Sunday 1 September] and mobilised fire crews from Chesterfield, Clay Cross and Staveley fire stations to the scene. Colleagues from Derbyshire police and East Midlands ambulance service are also in attendance. People are asked to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident.”
The Incident
The incident happened just after 9am on Sunday morning, according to police. The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft and died in the collision, police confirmed. His family has been informed.
Investigation Underway
An investigation into the circumstances of the crash is currently underway, said police. Police said roads in the immediate area are closed and will remain shut for some time while the investigation continues. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene along with Derbyshire Police and East Midlands Ambulance Service.
The Scene
According to a BBC reporter at the scene, the light aircraft came down next to a yard. “It’s down a small road in between industrial units, where you can just about see fire engines, police cars and ambulances. It’s next to this yard where this light aircraft came down,” said Oli Constable, BBC reporter. “Thankfully from the road you can’t see the plane, but there’s lots of police officers here who are working with the other emergency services to make the area safe.”
The Aircraft
According to Flightradar24, the plane took off from Coal Aston airfield, near Dronfield. The website indicated the plane was a two-seater Evektor SportStar, which its manufacturer said is typically used by flight schools.
The Flight Path
The flight tracking website Flightradar24 published some extra details about the flight. The plane is a privately owned Evektor SportStar built in 2022, according to the site. The last signal Flightradar received was the plane was at 8:03 UTC while it was travelling over Sheepbridge at 600 feet. The aircraft appeared to have been in the air for less than 10 minutes before it crashed. It had twice circled the village of Old Whittington, two miles north of Chesterfield, before coming down on Sheepbridge Lane.
Aftermath
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into the crash. “An investigation has begun into an accident involving a light aircraft which occurred on 1 September near Chesterfield, Derbyshire,” said the AAIB in a statement on Sunday. “A team of inspectors has been sent to the accident site to gather evidence and make enquiries.”
Local Impact
The incident prompted a heavy police presence with roads in the immediate area of the crash closed following the deadly incident. They are expected to remain closed for a while until Derbyshire Police have concluded their investigation. People have been told to avoid the area during the ongoing work of the police. Derbyshire Police announced the pilot's death in a statement earlier today. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service remained on the scene until 11am but they have since left. The police force is now leading the investigation at the scene.
The Call To Action
Authorities have asked people to avoid the area as the emergency services deal with the crash. The incident is being investigated by Derbyshire Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
