A YEAR-LONG investigation, into an air crash in which a pilot from WGC was killed, has concluded that he succumbed to “get-there-itis”.

A report, published this week by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), found that David Boon took off from Panshanger Aerodrome on April 10 last year – Good Friday – despite forecasts of inclement weather.

The 47-year-old’s Piper fixed wing single engine craft crashed into a wooded ridge in Steep, near Petersfield in Hampshire, 45 minutes later.

Mr Boon and his passenger, partner Carol Ann Potter, 49, suffered multiple injuries in the crash.

They had been en route to Jersey in the Channel Islands for an Easter break when the accident took place.

The report said: “It is likely the pilot succumbed to ‘get-there-itis’ in making his decision to take off.

“It is probable that, as the weather deteriorated on his route, he ran out of escape routes before inadvertently entering cloud.

“It is likely the pilot initiated a climb because he knew the aircraft was probably close to the ground.

“His actions were too late, however, for the aircraft to clear the ridge.”

The report also suggested that the provision of an airbag in the craft could have saved Mr Boon’s life.

The father-of-three, who first started flying in 2005, grew up in Howlands and attended Heronswood School.

A self-employed plasterer and a keen musician, Mr Boon lived in Stevenage at the time of his death.