Pilot killed as plane crashes in Mayo f ield

A MARRIED father of two has died in a small plane crash in Co Mayo. The Air Accident Investigation Unit is carrying out an investigation following the death of Michael McCarrick, who was in his 50s.

He was the pilot of the singleseater aircraft that came down in a field at Breaffy, near Ballina at around 6.30pm on Friday.

Locals reported hearing sounds indicating that the plane was in trouble before it hit the ground.

Mr McCarrick, who worked with the ESB for the past 40 years as a network technician, was flying when the aircraft lost altitude very quickly.

Inspectors from the AAIU removed the wreckage from the crash scene and it has been transported to a hangar in Meath, where a full investigation into the cause of the crash will be carried out.

A post mortem will take place in Castlebar on Monday.