Crash pilot's family get damages

The money will be used for the children's education

The family of a man killed when he ejected from an aircraft on the ground and landed on a motorway is to receive £246,500 in agreed High Court damages.

Gary Clark was 45 when he died, after ejecting on to the M11 near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire, in June 2002.

He is survived by wife Tina, 35, and three young children. The settlement represents a third of the full claim.

Mr Clark received fatal injuries landing on the far side of the motorway when his parachute failed to deploy.

The recruitment business owner was learning to fly an Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross aircraft (L-39), when he and his instructor, Andrew Gent, approached Duxford to refuel.

On landing, the plane went through the airfield's perimeter fence and ran down the embankment of the M11, crossing the northbound carriageway and central reservation before coming to rest.

Mr Clark ejected as the aircraft went through the fence and he died shortly after from his injuries. Mr Gent was unhurt.

The family's counsel, Anthony Scrivener QC, told Mr Justice Underhill in London that Mr Gent, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, aircraft owners Rocketseat Ltd, of Hailsham, east Sussex, Rocketseat chief pilot Phillip Greenhalgh, and Rocketseat director David Hayes, of Northam, Rye, denied liability.

The judge awarded £5,000 to each child with the balance going to Mrs Clark to be used for their education.