Reports of serious incident in Suffolk

[Mike Flynn]

Emergency services are dealing with a 'serious incident' after reports of a light aircraft coming down in a field.

The incident happened shortly before 12pm today and has three fire crews have been called to the site.

Essex Police have described it as a 'serious incident' on the boarder of Essex and Suffolk, at Belchamp Walter.

It is understood there is a small private landing strip close to the area of the incident.




https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1683x1107/9bb2562d_0015_47f9_988a_50799dbe3807_70faec0e21a0553fdbc7d01 7df3b2ebc70ccfc75.jpeg


The only airstrip in the village is Waits Farm
Five fire crews from Essex are currently at Bells Road, Belchamp Walter dealing with what is described as an “aircraft incident”.

There is a small private landing strip close to the site, which is four miles west of Sudbury and about five miles from Great Yeldham, itself over the border in Essex.

An Essex Police spokesman said they were attending a “serious incident” after being called on Sunday at about 11.50am.

They could not say if there were any casualties.




https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1322x941/91707690_567e_4ae9_b692_23aad5276fec_44a2288362050dd7b42ac0a 5cee3c0a8e10a736f.jpeg


A dog walker told Essex Live they saw “fumes and smoke" close to the site of the reported crash.

Another eyewitness said: "I saw an aircraft of some sort crash into the field. I’m not sure if it was a micro blade or a light aircraft.

"A helicopter did land in the field, there has been lots of police and services. I’m sure they’ve got it in hand."

It is believed police have set up an incident room at the Belchamp Walter village hall, Essex Live reports.

A local farmer told Express.co.uk: "I heard all the fire and ambulance sirens. My daughter said it was possibly a plane.

"I hope nobody is hurt. It's about one field away from us.

"There is an airstrip there. It is used by various light aircraft. There have been other light aircraft flying around since then."

Belchamp Walter is around three miles west of Sudbury, Suffolk and along the A131 from Halstead.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said they sent four fire engines to the scene while another three have been sent from the Suffolk brigade. An air ambulance also landed at the scene, which is close to a private landing strip.





https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/plane-incident-on-suffolk-and-essex-border-1-5877523?x



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6662929/Emergency-services-rush-scene-incident-amid-reports-light-plane-coming-down.html

[biscuit74]

I hope it is not too serious.

The number of emergency vehicles responding is not any indication of the severity of the incident, nowadays.

We had a simple incident at our field recently land despite asking for an ambulance and single fire engine only, we ended up with no less than thirteen emergency vehicles, including a helicopter, and the police declaring an 'exclusion zone', courtesy of an 'incident commander' based 150 miles away. Slight over reaction...

So perhaps this may be no worse than ours, which involved minor injury for one person only. Fingers crossed.

[EddieHeli]

Latest news reports say Pilot has died

[DaveReidUK]

The only airstrip in the village is Waits Farm

Used by around half a dozen based aircraft, mostly homebuilts.

[Piper.Classique]

Yes, well people do tend to send everything they have. I expect it you were in an accident in let's say an islander, which is a light aircraft by definition, you might be a bit miffed if you had to wait while the ambulance shuttled the other nine victims to hospital. This unfortunate pilot got the full response, sadly for him it wasn't required.
I did once collect the full trio of, in that order, ambulance, police car and fire engine following a field landing in a glider, with no damage to either self or glider. They went away when I explained it was normal for gliders to do this, and no, it wasn't broken, the wings were supposed to come off so it would go in the trailer. Which at this point was trying to get past the fire engine.
Don't expect a well meaning witness to do a full report, they are doing their best to help someone, or possibly several someones, in serious trouble. They probably aren't standing right next to the wreckage, the person taking the call probably isn't clairvoyant, and they can call the extras back or onward if they aren't needed on site.

[biscuit74]

Sadly I see this was a fatal accident after all.

(Very true Piper Classique - over-reaction is normal & generally preferable.)

[DaveReidUK]

The downed aircraft is being reported as a "microlight glider", which would appear to rule out any of the aircraft based at Waits Farm.

[Graham Burley]

The downed aircraft is being reported as a "microlight glider", which would appear to rule out any of the aircraft based at Waits Farm.
I've just seen it was Luton Minor.

[pilotmike]

The downed aircraft is being reported as a "microlight glider", which would appear to rule out any of the aircraft based at Waits Farm.

Another news report stated the aircraft was a "micro blade". As neither description is a recognised category of aircraft, the only thing which appears clear is that neither description can be relied upon, and more importantly, nothing can be ruled out.

[DaveReidUK]

Soarable microlights under 300 kg are a recognised subset of the UK SSDR category.

In this instance, the "microlight glider" quote came from the emergency services and would also be a reasonable description of something like a Sinus, for example, or indeed any self-launcher. Come to that, the man in the street might well equally use the term to describe a flexwing.

Most reports quote a post-crash fire, so hard to see it having been anything unpowered.

[ETOPS]

Type now being reported as a Luton LA4 Minor which, sadly, fits with one of the locally based machines.

[pilotmike]

Soarable microlights under 300 kg are a recognised subset of the UK SSDR category.

In this instance, the "microlight glider" quote came from the emergency services and would also be a reasonable description of something like a Sinus, for example, or indeed any self-launcher. Come to that, the man in the street might well equally use the term to describe a flexwing.

Most reports quote a post-crash fire, so hard to see it having been anything unpowered.

For the avoidance of doubt, DaveReidUK, I took issue with your daft conclusion that you could "rule out any of the aircraft based at Waits Farm". As usual, you've been back to argue your case - and argue with anyone daring to dispute anything you say - but sadly, the facts have confirmed my exact point that your conclusion was ill-founded, and you were foolish to state it.

My thoughts are with the pilot, their family and friends.

[DaveReidUK]

I've just seen it was Luton Minor.

Thanks for the update. RIP.

For the avoidance of doubt, DaveReidUK, I took issue with your daft conclusion that you could "rule out any of the aircraft based at Waits Farm". As usual, you've been back to argue your case - and argue with anyone daring to dispute anything you say - but sadly, the facts have confirmed my exact point that your conclusion was ill-founded, and you were foolish to state it.

Fine.

My conclusion was indeed invalid, based on an erroneous description of the aircraft by the emergency services (of whom no criticism intended, I take full responsibility for my own incorrect deduction).

So I'm happy to stand corrected. Like most PPRuNers, I'm here to live and learn, and I don't feel the slightest embarrassment in conceding "I was wrong" (as my posting history will show!), but I appreciate that there other posters who find that prospect mortifying. :O