CHIPPENHAM NEWS: THE 60-YEAR-OLD pilot of a light aircraft that crashed into a field lost control after he flew too low.

Robert Hitchin was flying his Mooney M20J single engine plane towards a private airstrip in Wadswick near Corsham in October when it crashed into a wheat field on Manor Farm.

Mr Hitchin and his 37-year-old passenger Kevin Moore, both from the Bath area, survived the crash but were seriously injured.

A report by the Department of Transport Air Accidents Investigations Branch published yesterday said Mr Hitchins was planning to circle the landing strip at Wadswick when he lost control.

The report said: "The pilot suddenly realised that he was too low on approach and applied full power to go-around. On the go-around, the aircraft stalled accompanied by a left wing drop."

The pilot could not stop the plane from spinning and it crashed into the ground.

Mr Hitchins was planning to move his aircraft from Old Sarum Aerodrome, near Salisbury, to the private airstrip at Wadswick and was flying over to look at the facilities. He had planned to circle the airstrip a few times before returning to Old Sarum.

Mr Hitchins, who had more experience flying gliders than aircraft, had not flown to Wadswick before so invited Mr Moore to come with him.

Mr Moore is not a pilot but knew the local area.

The weather was good and the pair arrived above Wadswick and made radar contact at 2.24pm.

The report said: "The pilot suddenly realised that he was much lower on the approach than he intended. He immediately applied full power.

"He could not subsequently recall any details between that point and then being aware of the aircraft in a nose down attitude. It appeared obvious to the pilot that the situation was not recoverable.

"He called to his passenger that they were going to crash and was then aware of the aircraft striking the ground."

Mr Moore told the investigation team that he had flown with Mr Hitchins before and thought he was safe and careful. He remembered hearing a warning horn before the crash.

Even though badly injured, Mr Hitchins managed to use his mobile phone to call emergency services.

Paramedics and fire crews arrived at 2.34pm.

Mr Moore had managed free himself from the wreckage but Mr Hitchins remained trapped until 4.07pm, when he was airlifted to hospital.

The plane, which was 22 years old, was destroyed in the crash.