The pilot of the AgustaWestland AW109 involved in a fatal crash on 16 January in London has been named as Capt Peter Barnes.
The 50-year-old was managing director of UK aerial work specialist Helivision and a freelance pilot for RotorMotion of Redhill, Surrey - for whom he was flying when the light twin-engined helicopter collided with a crane in Vauxhall, south of the river Thames, at about 08:00 local time.
In a statement issued late on 16 January, RotorMotion managing director and chief pilot Capt Philip Amadeus said: "Capt Barnes was a very highly skilled pilot, one of the most experienced in the UK, with over 12,000 flying hours. We are devastated by the loss of a highly valued colleague and very dear friend."
While en route from Redhill in Surrey to Elstree, Hertfordshire, Capt Barnes - the sole occupant of the helicopter - had requested to divert and land at the London Heliport in Battersea because of bad weather. The AW109 then struck a crane positioned on top of a building development.
One person on the ground was also killed and 13 others injured.
Source: Flight International
