Two flying friends plummeted to their deaths in a light aircraft when they went for a test flight over Osea Island three years ago.
A jury inquest at Chelmsford heard that Keith Stretton, 47, of The Street, Takeley, was being tested by John Searle, 55, of Juniper Way, Romford. They took off from Stapleford Airfield in a Piper Comanche single engine plane on Saturday May 12, 2001. Visibility was good.
At 4.30pm Heybridge farmer Ian Creighton of Goldhanger Road, was feeding cattle. He saw the Piper nose dive towards the ground. As he dialled 999 he heard a loud boom.
Statements of other witnesses were read to the court by coroner's officer Stephen Parfrey.
Sailors and other airmen all described trying to reach the scene to help. The rescue helicopter arrived first.
Veteran flyer Egidio Gavzzi, a former commercial pilot, was flying an ex military Russian plane when he saw the Piper doing what he thought at first was "a very steep, tight spin stunt" then he thought there was a fault and the plane dived to the ground. He hovered overhead to mark the spot for the emergency services.
Aviation pathologist Air Commador S.A. "Tony" Cullen of RAF Henlow, Beds, said Mr Stretton and Mr Searle had undergone all the necessary medical examinations for flying and were both in good health.
Death was due to multiple injuries and would have been instantaneous.
Neither man had alcohol or drugs in their bodies. But both had high levels of carbon monoxide.
Although this would not have caused death it could have impaired their attention, concentration, co-ordination and ability to make reasoned decisions.
Mr Stretton's widow, Maryon Stretton said her husband, a self employed kitchen fitter, had held a pilot's licence for 10 years and been co-owner of the red and white Piper for over five years.
Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray's suggested to the jury as a point of law that they find that both men died as a result of an accident.
After deliberating, the foreman read out the jury verdict that both Keith Stretton and John Searle died as the result of an accident.
Published Tuesday June 8, 2004
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