Pilot who taught Vorderman stunts killed in plane crash
‘She was an extraordinary young woman and pilot. My time with her in the air was nothing but a joy’
A CHAMPION aerobatic pilot who taught former Countdown star Carol Vorderman how to fly was killed in a light aircraft crash at the weekend.
Emily Collett, 36, had been executing a mid-air stunt when she crashed into a field near the village of Stonor in Oxfordshire on Saturday afternoon, The Sun reported. Mrs Collett was with novice aerobatic pilot Tom Castle, who worked at Sywell aerodrome in Northampton, in the small two seater Pitts S-2A plane. Mr Castle also died.
She had earlier taken off from White Waltham airfield near Maidenhead, where she and her husband Mike ran Ultimate Aerobatics, which provides training courses for aspiring pilots.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that the aircraft’s pilot and passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Nobody on the ground was injured.
Mrs Collett, who became the British advanced aerobatics national champion in 2016, had taught Vorderman how to do a loop-the-loop in the same model of plane two years ago.
The television personality and former Countdown co-host was shown being given a lesson by her during an episode of The One Show in 2017.
Vorderman said in a tribute: “Such a terrible terrible loss.
“Emily was an extraordinary young woman and pilot and my time with her in the air was nothing but a joy.
“My heart goes out to her husband Mike, to Emily’s family and to Tom Castle’s family in their grief. Rest In Peace.”
Mrs Collett and her husband both learnt aerobatics, including spins, rolls and loops, in the Pitts S-2A. The aircraft has a maximum speed of more than 200mph, according to their company’s website.
Mrs Collett was an experienced flier, having competed in the British Aerobatics Team and the World Advanced Aerobatics Championships during her career.
Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigators carried out an onsite examination before the light aircraft was lifted on to a low-loader and driven to their Hampshire headquarters. A spokesman said: “The AAIB investigation will take some time. An accident report will be released in due course.”