Tragic family's thanks for rescue bid

Relatives of a tragic father and son from South Staffordshire who were killed in a plane crash today thanked the onlookers who rushed to try and rescue them following the disaster.

A coroner recorded verdicts of accidental death on 15-year-old Ryan Birch and his father Tony, from Pattingham, as well as two others including a Lichfield man who died when the Piper Cherokee light aircraft came crashing down in a field shortly after take-off.

According to an Air Accident Investigation Branch report, the tragedy may have been caused by reduced engine power, a tailwind component, a greater take-off weight than estimated, an incorrect piloting technique during take-off or a combination of all of the factors.

The plane had left Tatenhill airfield in Staffordshire earlier that day and had stopped at the Isle of Wight on its way to Pontivy, Brittany.

Mr Birch, a microlite instructor, and his youngest son Ryan were travelling to Brittany to join Tony's wife Lesley when tragedy struck.

Mr Birch, aged 52, had stayed behind with Codsall High School pupil Ryan, who had wanted to take part in a wakeboard watersports event at Chasewater in Cannock.

Also killed in the crash were pilot Martin Rhodes, aged 48, of Stoke-on-Trent, and another passenger, Simon Marshall, 51, of Wentworth Drive, Lichfield.

Two men who were close by attempted to pull people free from the wreckage but were beaten back by strong flames the inquest heard.

Witnesses told how Ryan survived the impact of the crash before dying in the flames that then engulfed the aircraft. He is believed to have been unconscious.

Following the inquest a solicitor acting on behalf the Birch family said: "The family of Tony and Ryan Birch would very much like to express gratitude to the airfield staff who reacted so quickly, the fire service and the police who had to deal with such an horrific accident and particularly to the members of the public who risked their own safety."