Fatal crash pilot is identified

Captain Fairey was the son of the founder of the Fairey Aviation company

A pilot killed when a light aircraft crashed in a field in Lincolnshire has been identified.

Captain John Fairey, 74, died when the Percival P.56 Provost came down at Bishop Norton, near Market Rasen, on Wednesday afternoon.

He lived in Broughton, Hampshire, and was Deputy Lieutenant of the county and a former commercial airline pilot.

The crash is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and Lincolnshire Police.

'Tragic event'

Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Dame Mary Fagan said: "I was very saddened to hear of the tragic death of John Fairey, one of my deputies.

"He will be remembered by many people throughout Hampshire and beyond for his enormous contribution to the community as well as the aviation industry."

The plane crashed near to the river Ancholme in Bishop Norton

From 1978 to 1980 Captain Fairey flew with the air force in Rhodesia - a former British colony, which is now Zimbabwe.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Gina Livermore, a close friend, said in a statement: "The family are devastated at this tragic event.

"He was a much-loved man, a good and generous friend, and respected by all who knew him in the village and beyond.

"The family request that they are allowed to grieve in private, though appreciate that he was a well-known man in Hampshire and aviation circles and that everyone has their memories of him and will share the family grief."

The aircraft involved was a model that was in service with the RAF in the 1950s.

Mr Fairey was the son of Sir Richard Fairey, who founded the Fairey Aviation company based in Hayes, west London.

He was chairman of the Friends of the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, and involved with the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovil in Somerset.