Flight ended in tragedy as novice pilot ditched in sea

John Ingham drowned after his two-seater light aircraft crashed into the sea, off Robin Hood’s Bay, between Whitby and Scarborough, last year.

Yesterday’s inquest into his death was told that Mr Ingham, an aviation broker from Ripon, North Yorkshire, was a novice pilot with only 50 hours of flying experience.

The 45-year-old was the only person in the plane, which left Durham Tees Valley Airport on October 17, last year.

Two witnesses described how the Piper 38 plane glided silently towards the water as Mr Ingham, having made a mayday call moments earlier, attempted to ditch safely in the sea.

One of the plane’s wings caught the surface of the water, causing the aircraft to stall and flip on its side, then its back.

Expert witnesses said the crash could have been caused by a problem with one of the fuel pumps or by ice forming in the aircraft’s carburettor.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Ingham, who was not wearing a lifejacket, had scrapes and bruises, most likely as a result of the impact, but concluded he did not suffer any serious injuries.

Tony Severs, of the Air Accident Investigation Branch, said the exact cause of the crash could not be ascertained.

Mr Severs said regulations had not required Mr Ingham to wear a lifejacket because his flight plan showed that he was not expected to venture too far from the coast.

He added that although Mr Ingham was inexperienced, he had been well trained.

Off-duty police officer John Andrews, one of several people to see the crash, described a loud bang as it ditched into the sea.

He said: “The plane seemed to hover above the water, then the wing caught the surface and it crashed.

“It drifted for about five minutes before it became semi-submerged and slowly sank.”

The crash sparked a largescale rescue operation, and Mr Ingham’s body was found on a beach the following day.

Coroner Michael Oakley recorded a verdict of accidental death.