A PLANE flown from a Warwickshire airfield by two friends crashed in the English Channel when they lost control after entering heavy cloud, a report has concluded.
The plane flown by Lee Rogers and Brian Statham, which went missing over the Channel on April 2, struck the water with ‘a high rate of descent’, making it ‘unlikely that the occupants had any opportunity to escape from the aircraft’ – according to evidence gathered by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The AAIB’s report said: “A line of highly convective cloud was forecast on the intended route and as the aircraft approached the middle of the Channel, one of the pilots reported to London Information that they were in cloud.
A picture of the clouds which Lee and Brian are believed to have entered, taken from another aircraft which was on the same group fly-out from Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield.“Neither of the pilots was qualified to fly in cloud and, shortly after this transmission, the aircraft disappeared from radar.
“It is likely that control of the aircraft was lost when it entered the convective cloud and that it was substantially damaged on impact with the sea.
“The radar evidence suggests the aircraft struck the water with a high rate of descent. The damage to a retrieved seat suggests the aircraft was subjected to considerable forces and substantial disruption. It is therefore unlikely that the occupants had any opportunity to escape from the aircraft.”
Stratford man Lee, formerly of Warwick, and Balsall Common resident Brian were flying to Le Tourquet from Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield near Stratford.
They had been taking part in a group fly-out with several other aircraft from the South Warwickshire Flying School, where the pair met ten years ago.
An extensive search was conducted by the UK and French Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centres but neither the aircraft nor its occupants were found.
Following the accident, the family of Lee Rogers paid tribute to “a wonderful father, a loving husband, and a devoted family man”.
They said: “Anybody who knew Lee will testify to a larger-than-life character who lived life to the full, a man with a big heart and limitless generosity.
“Sarah has been married to Lee for eight years and they had been happy for many years before. Ellie, Lee’s daughter, and the apple of his eye was his greatest joy.”
Brian Statham’s family paid tribute to a loving husband and father, adding: “Brian was one of the most caring, kind and honest men in the entire world. He always put his family and friends first and never said no to fixing or helping with any problem he’d come across.
“Brian leaves behind a son, Douglas, twin daughters Ellen and Georgina, stepchildren Vickie and Jack, and a loving wife Jackie.”
