UK & World News
- 24 January 2013, 2:35
Helicopter Crash: Pilot's Last Words Revealed
The final words of Pete Barnes, the pilot killed after his helicopter crashed in central London, have been revealed.
Mr Barnes, 50, died from multiple injuries when the helicopter he was flying clipped a high-rise crane at St George Wharf in Vauxhall, south London.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said he spoke to air traffic control just before the crash and requested permission to land at a heliport in Battersea.
He asked: "Is Battersea open, do you know?"
After being told it was, he replied: "If I could head to Battersea that would be very useful."
The air traffic controller responded: "Battersea diversion approved, you're cleared to Battersea."
Mr Barnes' final words, spoken seven seconds before he crashed, were: "Thanks a lot."
The report also revealed that Mr Barnes' client, whom he had been due to pick up from Elstree in Hertfordshire, advised him not to make the journey from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey.
The report said: "At 0718hrs, the client called the pilot to discuss the weather. The pilot said he thought the weather might clear earlier than forecast. The client said he would drive to Elstree and call the pilot to keep him advised.
"At 0731hrs, having noticed how poor the weather was during his journey, the client called the pilot to suggest that he did not take off until he (the client) had reached Elstree and observed the weather. The pilot replied that he was already starting the engines.
"The client stated that he repeated his suggestion that the pilot should not take off."
He sent the client another message at 7.29am which stated: "I'm coming anyway will land in a field if I have to."
Mr Barnes' aircraft hit the crane and plummeted to the ground close to Vauxhall station.
He narrowly missed a new apartment block called The Tower, in St George's Wharf, to which the crane was attached as he crashed in Wandsworth Road.
An inquest into his death at Southwark Coroner's Court was earlier told he had been flying from Redhill to Elstree when he requested permission to divert.
Pedestrian Matthew Wood, 39, was also killed as he was walking to work.
what do you think?
ian knight
not all it seems//////////////big cover up////////////////////////
Juliet Williams
Why do you say that, I'm intrigued...
ian sadler
me too
movvi
Go on, Ian - tell us!
ian sadler
And its all gpne quiet over there ........
Paul Croxton
Always has to b a cover up dont tell me the invention of the toilet is a cover up while some things are a cover up this is a pure unfortunate accident
Adrian Wagstaff
I don't think there was. I know helicopters are very difficult to fly. I think, if you saw a crane in London against buildings, in cloudy/snowey weather you might not notice the crane. I think, those were his last words anyone heard him say over the radio, is what I think. If I was in that situation, I'd probably say, "Oh no!" The story makes sense when I read it. Nothing strange there, really. Lots of pilots decide to fly in bad weather. Even when we had the recent snow storms, there were passenger planes flying over from somewhere. Possibly, just flying over Britain or possibly not.
Louise Winship
why do we need to know what the poor mans final words were?. we dont do we.this is not news. the crash was, leave it at that. rip
Mike Anon
As an ex aviator it seems like pilot error to me. Pete Barnes was very experienced with over ten thousand hours flight time but accidents happen to even the most experienced.
movvi
"I'm coming anyway will land in a field if I have to" unfortunately suggests he was aware the conditions were too poor to fly. It's a shame he acted so defiantly. He and the poor bloke on the ground would still be here otherwise. Poor guys.
Michael Hawkins
3:45pm on 23/1/2013
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