Light aircraft crash kills pilot

The pilot was killed on impact near Market Rasen

A two-seater light aircraft has crashed into a field in Lincolnshire, killing the pilot.

The plane is thought to have come down near the river Ancholme at Bishop Norton near Market Rasen.

Lincolnshire Police said the pilot was the only one on board the aircraft which crashed away from any buildings.

The crash was reported to emergency services at 1435 BST. An RAF search and rescue team along with fire and rescue teams were sent to the scene.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport has been informed and an investigation team is expected to be at the scene later on Wednesday night.

'Almighty fireball'

Eyewitness Andrew Henderson told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "I was out walking my dog. I saw this plane hurtling to the ground at a 45 degree angle.

"You could clearly see one of the engines on fire and smoke coming out of it followed by an almighty fireball."

A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police said it was not known yet where the aircraft had flown from or its planned destination.

I saw the plane go across my windscreen with smoke streaming from it Witness to the crash

"They [investigators] need to understand exactly how this has happened," she said.

"We've got the 'ambucopter' and the air and rescue search helicopter on the scene along with fire and rescue and police.

"They'll all be working together as quickly as they can to get this incident sorted."

An eyewitness, 39, who did not want to be named said he was driving out of the village of Glentham when he saw the plane coming down.

"I saw the plane go across my windscreen with smoke streaming from it.

"I went into the field to see if there was anything I could do to help but the plane was still partially on fire, so I called the emergency services," he said.

Insp Phillip Baker, from Lincolnshire Police, said: "An investigation will be conducted between the Air Accident Investigation team and Lincolnshire Police to confirm why the aircraft failed to get to its destination.

"We'll bring in the experts, they will investigate and then we can release further details."