Crash claim falters over ecstasy

The flight was an early 14th birthday present for Jamie Clapp

A father whose teenage son died in a light aircraft crash has been told he will not receive an insurance pay-out because the pilot had taken ecstasy.

Jamie Clapp, 13, from Mangotsfield, near Bristol, died in 2007 when he was a passenger in the Cessna 150 which crashed and burst into flames.

The pilot, 34-year-old Robert Gunter, was also killed.

Mr Clapp said he had hoped the insurers would pay out, so he could afford a £4,000 marble gravestone for his son.

His solicitors said they would not be pursuing the claim, which would have been paid out if the crash had happened as a result of pilot error.

The inquest into Jamie's death heard Mr Gunter, a family friend, had taken ecstasy before the flight, which was an early 14th birthday present.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded in respect of Jamie while Mr Gunter's death was recorded as misadventure.