Crash victim Gerald Prangley

The Cardiff Flying Club members were en route to Leominster when they crashed in low cloud at 1245 GMT - the cause remains unknown.

Friends said the businessmen had more than 1,000 hours of flying time between them, were doting family men and had a passion for the air.

A neighbour said of forklift company owner Mr Mansbridge, from Barry: "At least he died doing the hobby he loved."

A family friend said: "It is a terrible tragedy. They were both keen flyers and just fancied a spin out for the day.

"Their families are absolutely devastated - especially at this time of the year, when people are with their families for Easter."

Debris found

Electricity company regional manager Mr Prangley of Laleston near Bridgend also perished in the incident, which remains a mystery.

The Piper PA38 Tomahawk was lost from air traffic radars and radio contact was lost with the pair before Gwent Police later found the wrecked plane near the disused Blaenbran reservoir.

It had taken off at 1100 GMT and contact was lost just an hour in to the flight to the Shobdon airfield.

After a search that involved police from three different forces and a helicopter, the debris from the plane was located on a hillside at around 1400 BST.

What began as a rescue operation was, however, hampered by the rugged, inaccessible terrain, passable only to off-road vehicles and the helicopter.

A surgeon pronounced the men dead when teams were able to reach the pair.

Investigations continue

The Civil Aviation Authority is now investigating the crash and a report will be compiled for Gwent coroner David Bowen.

Investigators are continuing to examine wreckage in an effort to discover what caused the crash,. which brought down overhead electricity lines.

The flight never reached Leominster after taking off

Inspector Allyn Richards said there are electricity pylons in the area and investigations were ongoing as to whether they had any part to play in the crash.

He added: "As far as we are aware there was no distress signal issued from the aircraft before it crashed."

Back at Cardiff Flying Club, where the men were regulars, friends were still coming to terms with the loss.

Mr Mansbridge was a member of eight years and Mr Prangley of four, while both checked the route and weather before taking off.

Chief flying instructor Cliff Hubbard said: "We're all in a state of shock.

"Both these men were experienced and very capable pilots. We are mystified about what could have caused this terrible incident.

"The weather seemed fine when they took off but there was a lot of low cloud and poor weather later on."