Charity flight pilot died in sea crash

Martin Bromage's aircraft crashed into the sea during an 11,000-mile trip to raise 150,000 for war charity Help For Heroes.

The father-of-two took off from Gloucestershire Airport, near Cheltenham, on the morning of January 18 last year.

An inquest in Cheltenham yesterday heard Mr Bromage, 49, probably lost control of the new aircraft later that morning after encountering poor weather. However, a mechanical failure could not be ruled out. None of the wreckage was recovered.

Mr Bromage had enough fuel on board to return to Gloucestershire from the French coast.

Kenneth Fairbank, from the Air Accident Investigation Branch, told the hearing that Mr Bromage encountered deteriorating weather conditions over the English Channel.

He said French radar had picked up the experienced microlight pilot manoeuvring in a manner consistent with attempts to avoid the worst of the weather.

Reading from the official accident report, Mr Fairbank added: "The available evidence regarding the nature of the impact indicates that the aircraft struck the sea with considerable force, consistent with the loss of control at altitude.

"The pilot gave no indication of any fault with the aircraft and although a technical failure could not be ruled out, it was considered likely that the pilot lost control of the aircraft after encountering poor weather conditions."

Mr Fairbank said the last radio contact with Mr Bromage, a tree surgeon, from Churcham, near Gloucester, was at 12.53pm when he reported no problems. Radar lost contact with the aircraft at 12.55pm.

Mr Bromage's body was recovered from the sea a few miles off the coast of France, near Boulonge, later that night.

A post-mortem examination found he had died from severe multiple injuries consistent with the microlight crashing.

Drug and alcohol tests came back negative.

Coroner Derek Dooley recorded a verdict of accidental death.