A coroner has urged the government to review the legal age of pilots, with concern that "future deaths may occur" after an 87-year-old man died in a crash.
Peter Walker was killed in the accident, which happened while he was trying to land at Beccles Aerodrome on March 24, 2022.
His aircraft - a single-person CT2K - bounced twice as it touched down. The second time, it reached around 100ft into the air before crashing into a rapeseed field next to the runway.
Mr Walker was still alive by the time emergency services arrived but died at the scene.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) released a report a year after the accident.
The investigation report concluded: "It is possible that some age-related deterioration in human performance was a factor in this accident."
Now, following Mr Walker's inquest, which was held on June 21, senior Suffolk coroner Nigel Parsley has called for the Department of Transport to take action.
At the inquest, the court heard concerns about a lack of medical guidance for the recertification of pilots over 70 and concluded that the death was accidental.
Mr Parsley's report cites the AAIB's report stating a lack of medical guidance for pilots and medical professionals who use the Pilot Medical Declaration - where pilots can self-declare their fitness without input from a GP.
Alongside this, the AAIB made a recommendation to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to assess the appropriateness of those issued with microlight licences before February 2008 to revalidate their licence without logging any hours with an instructor.
He concluded his report: "In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action."
A Department for Transport (Dft) spokesperson said: “Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of Peter Walker.
“We will consider the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report and respond in due course.”
Mr Parsley's report has called for a Dft response by August 24 and has said they are "under duty" to reply with "details of action taken or proposed to be taken".
READ MORE: Tragic final flight of pilot, 87: AAIB report says age could be a factor in crash
THE FINAL FATAL FLIGHT
Peter Walker, from Burton Waters, near Lincoln, had taken off from Temple Bruer airstrip, in Lincolnshire, at 12.46pm to fly to Beccles.
Three minutes after take-off, he radioed air traffic controllers to say he was returning to the airfield with a "slight problem", but a minute later he said it had been solved and that he was continuing towards Beccles.
The AAIB's investigation could not establish the nature of the "problem", but a relative of the victim suggested it could be linked to a navigation aid, the report said.
Mr Walker had flown to the Suffolk airstrip on two earlier occasions.
Eyewitnesses said his approach to the landing - just over an hour after leaving Temple Bruer - was "unstable", although the aircraft then settled into a more steady flight.
READ MORE: Beccles airfield pilots' safety fears on plans filed to build power plant BESIDE runway
However, when he touched down, the aircraft twice bounced heavily, before crashing into the field.
The AAIB report says the aircraft "probably" stalled in these fatal moments.
None of the witnesses interviewed by investigators could recall hearing sounds of the aircraft accelerating - to avoid a stall - after either landing attempt.
Pilots who had flown the aircraft informed the AAIB that the CT2K could be “tricky to land” and that pilots needed to be “on their game” if things did not go as planned.
One pilot with knowledge about the type of aircraft said: “It is a difficult aircraft to land, especially if it bounces. You have to apply power to catch it. You have to be on your game.”
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