THE PILOT WHO died in a plane crash in Waterford in July reported that his engine was on fire shortly before impact.
A preliminary report into the incident, carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Unit Ireland, found that Howard Cox made a mayday call just after 5.30pm on Saturday, 25 July.
Cox was on the way to Shannon in his BD5 plane to take part in the Foynes Air Show the following day.
Cox, who was from Devon, said:
I’m going to have to land … Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. I have engine failure. I have an engine on fire.
Shannon Air Traffic Control asked him if he was going to go back to Waterford airport, to which he replied: “Negative I’m just going to have to find a field.”
Cox was the sole occupant.
The report notes that a final transmission was heard, noting: “[It] was very difficult to understand but did contain the phrase ‘ending up in a field’”.
It also states that Cox’s voice was “composed and professional during these transmissions”.
The investigation is continuing.
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