A PILOT who died after a plane crashed near a Scots airport just days before Christmas has been named.
Nicholas Denison-Pender, 50 has been identified as the pilot who was killed in the horror smash which took place shortly after take off from Fife Airport.
FacebookThe 50-year-old, from Perthshire was pronounced dead at the scene[/caption]
The tragedy unfolded around 11.40am on Monday, December 23.
Emergency services attended but the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Inspector Samantha Davidson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Nicholas as they come to terms with their loss.
“The family have asked for their privacy at this difficult time.
“An investigation into the circumstances of the crash remains ongoing and we would ask for anyone with information, to please come forward.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1136 of 23 December, 2024.
The plane had set off from Fife Airport, which sits around three miles west of Glenrothes.
Stunned locals said they watched the aircraft make “strange manoeuvers” before it spiralled into a nearby field.
Emergency services rushed to the scene just yards from a nearby residential area, but the 50-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the nearby Kinglassie village, a devastated local told the Scottish Sun: “There was a loud bang and two guys who had been painting the pavilion at the football pitch ran up to see what was going on.
“It’s just terrible, it took off from just over the hill at the airport, how frightening it would be to witness that.”
Another resident added: “It wasn’t far from the residential part, you can see where it landed and it’s just a street away from houses, it is just terrifying.”
The wreckage of the plane is clearly visible on the hill from the Main Street of Kinglassie and drone footage taken from the skies above the field showed the wreckage covered with a tarpaulin.
Kinglassie Miners Welfare and Bowling Club was closed for the day, and offered support for emergency services.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch launched sent a team to probe the crash.
They said: “An investigation has begun into an accident involving a light aircraft which occurred near Fife Airport on December 23, 2024.
“A team of inspectors are travelling to the accident site to make enquiries and gather evidence as part of the process of conducting a safety investigation.”
Police ScotlandNicholas Denison-Pender was the pilot who passed away in the light aircraft crash at Fife airport[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
