A farm owner near Dunkeswell Airfield said the light aircraft landed on his land
ByArchie FarmerSouth West and Zhara SimpsonDevon
The pilot of plane has died after it crashed on a farm near an airfield in Devon, emergency services have confirmed.
Police, the fire service and ambulances were called to Dunkeswell aerodrome in east Devon after the incident reported at about 10:00 BST on Friday.
Devon and Cornwall Police force said tragically, the pilot, believed to be a woman in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said nobody else was on board at the time, and her next of kin had been informed.
Dunkeswell is the highest licensed aerodrome in the UK
Police said it was working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Branch to “thoroughly investigate” the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Supt int Jo Arundale said: “We recognise it is a very sad incident and we are appealing to the public not to speculate regarding the crash.
“Furthermore, we would like to ask anybody who may have relevant footage to get in touch with us and not to post it online.
Arundale added its thoughts were with the friends and family of the person involved.
Anyone with relevant footage was asked to contact the police force.
Devon and Somerset Fire Service added that several crews were in attendance at Dunkeswell.
Connetts Farm founder Nick Stevens confirmed the small aircraft crashed on the farm.
Stevens said he was working nearby when he saw a “serious fire” on the farm which he thought was one of his barns, but when he arrived, discovered it was the light aircraft.
When he arrived emergency services had already been informed.
He said road closures around the area were in place.
The Dunkeswell Aerodrome is a former RAF site located in the Blackdown Hills area of Devon, close to the county’s border with Somerset.
According to the aerodrome’s website, the site was originally built to be an US naval base during World War Two.
It is also claimed to be the highest licensed airfield in the UK.
One witness, called Johnny on Marcus Road, south of the airfield, said he saw “a lot of black smoke” east of the airfield around 11:00.
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