Reservoir crash pilot identified by dental records

Laura Fosterat Essex Coroners' Court in Chelmsford
News imageSteve Hubbard/BBC A police car parked at the entrance of a reservoir. There is a large green gate and fence marking the boundary of the site. There is also a large blue sign detailing the name of the reservoir.Steve Hubbard/BBC
Police blocked the reservoir's entrance while divers searched for Peter Beeson's body

A pilot whose plane crashed into a reservoir in Essex was identified by dental records, an inquest heard.

Peter Beeson, 66, from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, was the only person onboard the Beagle B121 Pup aeroplane.

His body was recovered by police divers two days later.

At Essex Coroner's Court, area coroner Michelle Brown said his provisional cause of death was "pending toxicology" results.

Essex Police said the plane had left North Weald Airfield, roughly 19 miles away, just before midday.

The force said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

The crash is being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

"They say they hope to get the investigation report within six months," said Brown, who adjourned the inquest proceedings to a later date.

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