Death crash pilot was over limit (From Watford Observer)

Death crash pilot was over limit

7:21pm Tuesday 3rd June 2008

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A pilot who was killed when flying with a microlight pupil was almost seven times over the blood-alcohol limit, an inquest heard today.

Jay Madhvani, 54, suffered fatal chest and spine injuries when his aircraft crashed after hitting a tree as it came into land.

His pupil Kay Bolton was seriously injured with a fractured pelvis, sacrum and ribs. She also had a bruised lung, ruptured spleen and a lacerated kidney. An air ambulance took her to hospital.

An inquest at Hatfield, heard that Mr Madhavani, a former Royal Tank Regiment soldier, had 137mg of alcohol in 100ml of his blood. The UK limit for pilots is 20mg per 100ml. For drivers the limit is 80mg per 100ml.

Pathologist Wing Commander Graham Maidment said: "He had a substantial alcohol content in his blood at a level which would have impaired his ability to safely control the aircraft."

He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries to the cervical spine and chest.

An examination of Mr Madhvani's liver revealed it was "fatty" and "most likely represents the effect of chronic alcohol use", he said.

The father-of-two from Mount Pleasant, Cockfosters, was flying with Mrs Bolton from Penrose Avenue, Carpenders Park, when he crashed as he demonstrated an off-engine landing at Plaistows Farm, Chiswell Green, at around 1.23pm on March 28 last year.

Mrs Bolton, who was sitting in the rear seat of the microlight, said: "He never approached the runway from that side. We were completely out of position." She has not been able to remember anything about the accident."

Mr Madhvani was originally from Kenya and joined the Army at 19, serving 23 years in the Royal Tank Regiment.

He ran two microlight schools, one at Plaistows Farm and another in Ware. He began flying in 1992 and became an instructor in 1995 and competed in events across Europe.

Timothy Atkinson, a Senior Inspector with the Air Accident Board, said "engine off" landings were taught to students so they could learn how to deal with engine failure.

He said: "It is a challenging manoeuvre - used in flying competitions. There is skill in judging the rate of descent and distance of the runway.

"The aircraft was at the top of the tree and was too low to make the runway. In this case the contact with the tree made the aircraft uncontrollable."

The left wing of the microlight clipped the tree, causing it to crash to the ground.

Refering to the level of alcohol in the pilot's blood he said: "His judgement was very seriously impaired by alcohol. This particular manoeuvre requires a particularly high level of skill."

He said GPs had to give pilots medical certificates to allow them continue flying every 3 or 5 years. All of Mr Madhvani's documents were in order, the jury was told.

Coroner Edward Thomas said: "He was a very popular man who people liked. He was very committed to flying and made a deep impact on many people's lives."

The inquest jury of seven women and three men returned a verdict of accidental death.

The coroner said he would be writing to the flying authorities "about the need to disseminate the importance of making sure alcohol is a 'No No'."

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