2:24pm Thursday 29th March 2007
THE pilot killed when his microlight crash landed has been named as 54 year old Jaysukh Madhvani.
The father-of-two died as he attempted to land on an airstrip near Plaistowes Farm, in Chiswell Green.
Firefighters were called to the incident, near Gardens of the Rose, at 1.27pm yesterday afternoon.
Crews from Garston and St Albans attended the scene.
Mr Madhvani was a microlight instructor and ran two schools, one at Plaistowes Farm and another in Ware.
Kenyan-born, Mr Madhvani joined the Army at 19 and served 22 years in the Armoured Corps.
He began flying in 1992 and became an instructor in 1995.
A female passenger was taken to Milton Keynes Hospital by air ambulance having suffered pelvic and chest injuries. Her condition is described as critical.
Witnesses told firefighters they saw the microlight clip a tree over the fields and crash just before the runway.
Tim Atkinson from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed a full investigation was now under way.
He said yesterday's flying conditons were ideal and added the target for compiling their report was nine months.
He said: "It appears that during the approach to land, the aircraft struck the topmost branches of a tall tree and the pilot lost control.
"There were two occupants of the aircraft, a flying instructor, Mr Madhavani, who was pronounced dead at the accident site, and a female who was taken to Milton Keynes hospital, where she is in a critical but stable condition.
"The conditions were ideal for microlight flying - good visibility, no low cloud and very little wind.
"We are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and will publish a report inlcuding safety recommendations. Our target for publishing the report is nine months but it could be more or less than that.
"Our objective is to produce a complete, accurate and non-biased report that looks at all the circumstances surrounding the accident."
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