Accident leads to calls for laws guarding private flights

AIR accident investigators have recommended urgent introduction of legislation to govern corporate aviation following a fatal accident at a private airstrip in Limerick two years ago.

The recommendation followed an investigation into the accident which resulted in the death of 85-year-old Godfrey Bush.

Mr Bush died from his injuries nine days after the plane in which he was a passenger crash-landed shortly after take-off.

Mr Bush's wife, Mavis, and the pilot also received serious head and back injuries in the accident.

Authors of the air accident report have advised the European Aviation Safety Agency to immediately finalise plans for specialised regulation of the use of private aircraft in business a growing sector of the industry.

Accident investigators expressed concern that private airstrips are being used in Ireland for high-performance planes without proper assessment of their suitability for such aircraft.

The accident in which Mr Bush died occurred at a private airstrip owned by London businessman David Pearl at Ballyveale Stud, Ballingarry, Co Limerick, on August 9, 2002.

The report noted it was not the first time that the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport had become aware of involvement of private aircraft for business use in fatal accidents.

The left wing of the small four-seater Beachcraft Bonanza broke off after it nose-dived after take-off into a solid hedgerow at the boundary of the airstrip before the plane came to rest in an adjoining field.

All four fuel tanks were ruptured and the aircraft declared a total write-off. Witnesses described how the plane was "struggling to get airborne," although they also reported no strange engine noise.

The report said the accident was caused by the stalling of the aircraft shortly after take-off due to a lack of adequate air speed.

It also claimed the English pilot, aged 27, had "a very limited total and recent experience" of flying such a high-performance complex aircraft, especially from a grass airstrip.

The report also revealed that the airstrip did not have proper planning permission.

However, Mr Pearl told accident investigators he has received legal advice that he did not need to apply for planning permission for the airstrip.

The Irish Aviation Authority said the airstrip did not require its approval as it was intended as an unlicensed private airstrip.