Four dead in light aircraft crash

Wreckage of the plane is being examined by investigators

A light aircraft has crashed in a field after take-off on the Isle of Wight killing all those on board.

The plane, which had flown from Tatenhill Airfield in Staffordshire, was leaving the Isle of Wight Airport at Sandown at midday when it crashed.

The Piper Cherokee, bound for France, came down near Canteen Road, Apse Heath, and burst into flames.

Hampshire Police confirmed late on Sunday that four people had died in the air crash.

It immediately crashed and there was an extremely large black bloom of smoke Brian Madden, eyewitness

Eye witness Brian Madden described how the crash happened.

He said: "I was just flying in to Sandown at 12 o'clock when to my right I saw a Piper taking off.

"You could see it was having great difficulty getting lift.

"As it got to the end of the runway the aircraft lifted but not very well.

Crash investigators

"He tried to pull the aircraft up to clear the trees which he did do and in order to get lift he pushed the nose of the aircraft down and it immediately crashed and there was an extremely large black bloom of smoke."

Dick Steele, owner of The Isle of Wight Airport, said he believed that four people were on board the plane which was flying to a small airfield in France.

A police spokesman said officers from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) were currently examining the wreckage.

Scheduled services to London and The Channel Islands operate from Sandown, and an air taxi service is also based at the airport.