A PILOT and his passenger died after he lost control of his light aircraft in clouds near Taunton, an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report concludes.

Joe Mann, 69, was piloting the Mudry Cap 10B (G-BXBU) when it came down and was destroyed after hitting a tree at Lower Colley Farm, Buckland St Mary, on August 12, 2021.

Moments earlier, Mr Mann, who was not qualified to fly in cloud, had contacted the Distress and Diversion Cell (D&D) for assistance.

The AAIB report released today (Thursday, April 27) said: "The investigation identified shortcomings in the system in place in the UK to provide emergency support to aircraft in distress.

"It found that air traffic service providers did not obtain or exchange sufficient information about the aircraft and its pilot to enable adequate assistance to be provided.

"There was an absence of active decision making by those providers and uncertainty between units and their respective roles and responsibilities."

As a result of the investigation, seven safety recommendations have been made:

The Civil Aviation Authority is recommended to:

  • Publish guidance for general aviation pilots on responding to unexpected weather deterioration;
  • Require air traffic controllers to receive training regarding human performance characteristics and limitations associated with stress;
  • Specify types of information air traffic controllers will obtain and record when responding to aircraft in an emergency to ensure pilots’ needs are met and reported correctly if communicated to other air traffic control units;
  • Encourage the use of checklists in air traffic management operations when dealing with abnormal and emergency situations;
  • Determine the effect the D&D Cell’s executive control has on civil Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) and inform civil ATCOs of any differences in their responsibilities while executive control is exercised.

The Department for Transport is recommended to:

  • Review current provision of emergency communications in the UK to determine if the involvement of a dedicated emergency air traffic service unit is the most effective way to assist civil aircraft in an emergency, and publish its findings
  • Specify and publish details of the emergency air traffic service it requires the D&D Cell to provide.

Mr Mann, who left a widow and four daughters, started his career in engineering at Westland Helicopters.

He was a union member from 1969, holding a number of positions in the TGWU and becoming general secretary of the National League for the Blind and Disabled.

He sat on the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party and was an Exeter city councillor from 1994

He was president of the GFTU National Executive Committee in 2012 and won the MBE for his work representing and supporting disabled people.

His passenger in the fatal collision was artist Margaret Costa, 74, of East Devon.

Her family described her as "a much-loved mum and a nanny to four grandchildren" who was "the foundation stone of the family".

She was one of a few in the world who specialised in fore-edge painting (hidden watercolours found in the spine of gilt edge books).

READ MORE: Tributes to Joe Mann.

READ MORE: Family tribute to Margaret Costa.