Shifnal aircraft crash: Tributes paid as Market Drayton victims are named

Michael Sumner died alongside pal Tony Crocombe, of Kiln Bank Crescent, when the plane they were flying in came down in a field on Monday evening.

The men died at the scene.

Devastated family members described RAF veteran Mr Sumner as a devoted grandfather.

In a joint statement, his family said: "Michael lived for flying and it was his life as well as his two grandchildren who he idolised. He died happy doing what he loved.

"We would like to thank all of the eye witnesses that took the trouble to help the emergency services and give statements to the police when they arrived.

"We would also like to thank our friends and neighbours for the support that they have given to us."

Mr Crocombe's wife was too upset to speak, but neighbours Walter and Joyce Bennett, 72, described him as "a great man".

Mr Bennett said: "Flying was Tony's life – he loved to be up in the air looking down on everything below.

"Strangely enough we saw him flying over our house on the day that he crashed and we thought to ourselves 'There goes Tony'.

"We saw him fly out over the golf course and that was the last we ever saw of him."

"He was a very close neighbour and we used to see him passing down the road and would always pass the time of day with him.

"We've lived next to him for the last 13-and-a-half years and all the time we've known him he's been a very pleasant person and a great neighbour.

"He was always the type of neighbour who would be willing to help you with whatever you needed done.

Wrekin Microlight Flying Club's safety advisor Andy Richards said that although Mr Crocombe wasn't a member of their club they had met in the past.

He said: "Having met Tony on a couple of occasions he was a gentleman and an aviation enthusiast who loved flying."

The pair were the only people on board when the crash happened at around 5pm on Monday.

Lydia Santis, from Cobham Aviation Services, where Mr Crocombe worked, said: "Cobham were very sad to hear of Tony Crocombe's passing; our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

"Tony had been an employee at Cobham since 1992 and was both a well-respected and popular member of staff. He will be missed."

The Mayor of Shifnal, Councillor Robert Harrop paid tribute to the victims on behalf of the town.

Mr Harrop said: "We express our sadness that this tragic event has happened to these enthusiasts who were doing something that gives pleasure to so many people."

The aircraft came down in a field off Shaw Lane.

Eyewitnesses said the plane appeared to lose power before entering a steep descent to the ground.

Investigations into the incident have been launched by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

The wreckage has been taken to Farnborough for examination by the branch. But a spokesman for the team said the investigation could take months to reveal the cause of the crash.

A spokesperson for the Coroner's Service said: "The coroner has been informed about the crash and there is an ongoing investigation."