Four Britons die in light aircraft crash

Two British men and their young sons were killed when their light aircraft crashed and burst into flames in the United States, police said today.

Pilot Garry Megson died alongside his son Peter, eight, family friend Stephen Aspden and Mr Aspden’s 12-year-old son, Jack, in the accident.

Mr Megson lived in the United States with his wife and son, and the Aspdens were visiting from Manchester, police said.

The foursome had taken the rented single-engine Piper Warrior out from New Garden Airport in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.

Police said Mr Megson was attempting a tricky manoeuvre, called a touch-and-go-landing, when the accident happened.

The move involves touching the wheels down on the landing strip before immediately taking off again.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.