THE plane carrying a North-East parachutist who sky-dived to his death was flying too low when he jumped, an inquest heard yesterday.

Experts believe that RAF man Andrew Wilson, 25, of Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, may have been trying to avoid a wind turbine when he hit the ground after jumping from 14,000ft last June 12.

He was one of nine sky-divers who had taken a plane from the Peterlee Parachute Centre, in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.

An inquest heard yesterday that a board of inquiry found the aircraft had been flying at an incorrect level, leaving the jumpers further from their landing place than they should have been.

Malcolm Richardson, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, who had been in charge of the jump, said it was not unusual for an aircraft to be in an incorrect position on the first jump of the day.

He said the pilot and jump master estimate the position by taking into account wind conditions.

Mr Richardson said: "There are electricity pylons and wind turbines at the Peterlee site.

"Andrew found himself in that area, close to the ground. It seems his avoidance action resulted in his death."

Tony Butler, technical officer with the British Parachuting Association, investigated the death.

He said the aircraft had not been in an ideal position, but that some parachutists were able to make it to the landing place.

Mr Butler told an inquest at Chester-le-Street Magistrates' Court: "With experience and knowing the area, it (landing in the right place) was achievable.

"It is possible he had difficulty locating the landing area. There were a number of power lines and wind turbines in the area.

"It is likely Andrew decided not to go over or past these. He may have spiralled to get back to the landing area.

"As he was spiralling, he may have opted to land in a field."

Although he was an experienced sky-diver, this was the first time Mr Wilson had jumped from the Peterlee centre.

His body was found in a field at High Crows Farm, Wheatley Hill.

Mr Butler said: "Andrew had not jumped at that airfield before, so when he opened his parachute he was probably a little further away than normal.

"The board believe he may have noticed a wire fence in his flight path and may have tried to get away from it.

"The only fault we could find was the mistake of getting out of the aircraft at an incorrect level."

The investigation found the aircraft was 30 to 40 degrees too far to the west and at least 1,000 ft too low.

There was no fault with the equipment or parachute.

Jean Hughes, owner of the farmland where Mr Wilson's body was found, said she had noticed the parachutists and did not think they were going to make it to the airfield.

She said she had seen Mr Wilson nearing a wind turbine.

Mrs Hughes said: "I saw the parachute coming down and he looked out of control. The parachute was open and he was spiralling."

Deputy North Durham Coroner Brenda Davidson recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

Mr Wilson was a member of the RAF Regiment, stationed at RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire.