Father and son killed in crash

A father and his 15-year-old son were among four people killed when a light aircraft ploughed nose first into the ground shortly after take-off from the Isle of Wight.

Wolverhampton businessman Tony Birch and his youngest son Ryan were among the three passengers on the tragic flight.

They were flying to France to join his wife Lesley in Brittany. Mr Birch had stayed behind to travel with Ryan who had wanted to take part in a water sking event at Chasewater, Burntwood, on Saturday. The couple's other son Craig, 19, was at home.

Bob Birch, Mr Birch's brother who lives in Pendeford Avenue, Wolverhampton, said the family was in shock.

He said: "Tony was flying out to meet Lesley because he had stayed behind with Ryan, who was taking part in an event with Chasewater Skiing Club on Saturday.

"Lesley only found out last night and she has now flown home from France. She is hysterical."

He said the plane was nearly new and that no-one knew what had happened.

"They came down to refuel but set off again," he added. "We don't know what happened except that the plane burst into flames on crashing."

Mr Birch, who was in his 50s and a concrete mixer owner-driver and builder born and brought up in Featherstone, recently turned a former water pumping station in a luxury home for his family in Pattingham, near Wolverhampton.

He was a top microlite instructor and member of the Midlands Microlite Club.

The Piper Cherokee took off from Sittles Farm near Lichfield on Sunday with a pilot, believed to be Martin Holmes from Stoke-on-Trent at the controls and Tony and his son on board.

It touched down at Tatenhill near Burton-on-Trent to pick up another passenger, understood to be called Simon Marshall, before continuing its journey to the Isle of Wight Airport at Sandown - possibly to refuel.

The plane took off again to complete the trip to Pontivy Airfield in Northern France but plunged into a flield near the runway moments after leaving the ground. Eyewitnesses said it hit the ground nose first and burst into flames.

Fire crews and ambulances rushed to the scene from throughout the island after the noon smash but all four people on board died instantly.

Hampshire Police said: "The plane appeard to get into difficulties immediately after take-off but the cause of the accident has still to be established."