Pictured: Father-of-three killed in plane crash at Imperial War Museum airfield in Duxford - as family say he 'lived life to the fullest'
- The pilot, from the Bedfordshire area, was flying a General Aviation Cirrus SR22
- No one else was on board the plane at the time of the incident
- It crashed shortly after 1.40pm yesterday at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire
A father-of-three who died when his plane crashed on the airfield of Britain's largest aviation museum has been named by his family today.
Simon Riggs, a recently retired tech entrepreneur, from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene on Tuesday afternoon after the crash at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
His step-son, Sam Holdstock-Marshall, paid tribute on social media saying: 'It is with a heavy heart that I'm sharing this news. Yesterday afternoon Simon Riggs passed away. A much loved husband, father and friend.
'Having recently stepped down from working life, Simon continued to live his life to the fullest. He will be greatly missed.'
It is understood that a group of schoolchildren on a trip to the air museum also witnessed the horrifying crash.
Simon Riggs, a tech entrepreneur from Bedfordshire, was pronounced dead at the scene on Tuesday afternoon. Pictured here with his wife Karen
He is survived by his wife of six years, Karen, three adult children and three adult step-children
His step-son, Sam Holdstock-Marshall, paid tribute on social media. He wrote: 'It is with a heavy heart that I'm sharing this news. Yesterday afternoon Simon Riggs passed away. A much loved husband, father and friend'
Mr Riggs, who has recently retired from being a software developer and database manager, had also founded the data server solution company 2ndQuadrant.
The pilot was flying the privately owned General Aviation Cirrus SR22 when it crashed shortly after 1.40pm at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire.
He is survived by his wife of six years, Karen, three adult children and three adult step-children.
No one else was on board the plane at the time of the incident and emergency services, including nine fire engines from Cambridgeshire and one from Newmarket, attended the scene.
Police have now passed the investigation over to the Air Accident Investigation Branch, who remain on site at Duxford.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 1.40pm on Tuesday with reports that an aircraft had crashed at Duxford Airfield.
'Two ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, three Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance attended the scene.
'Sadly, despite the best efforts of all emergency services involved, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.'
Police have now passed the investigation over to the Air Accident Investigation Branch, who remain on site at Duxford
A spokesperson for Imperial War Museums Duxford said: 'We are sad to report that the pilot, a man in his 50s from the Bedfordshire area, did not survive the crash'
A private plane has crashed yesterday at the Imperial War Museum airfield
East of England Ambulance Service have confirmed that a man died at the scene
A spokesperson for Imperial War Museums Duxford said: 'We are sad to report that the pilot, a man in his 50s from the Bedfordshire area, did not survive the crash.
'Despite the best efforts of medical crews, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
'Cambridgeshire Police have informed next of kin, who attended the scene of the accident yesterday. The aircraft was a privately-owned General Aviation Cirrus SR22, based at Duxford. There were no other passengers.
'Police have now passed the investigation over to the Air Accident Investigation Branch, who remain on site at Duxford.'
It added: 'IWM Duxford will remain closed to visitors on Wednesday and Thursday. We are expecting to reopen to the public on Friday.'
Horrifying photos show the wreckage on the ground after the crash
The emergency services had raced to the scene while witnesses told how they saw emergency workers performing CPR on a person close to the wreckage of a small plane.
Another eyewitness said the air ambulance remained on scene for two hours.
Kate Moore, 62, was at Duxford airfield with her husband when the crash happened.
She said: 'While we were outside, we heard a bang and turned to see plume of smoke.
'We were a long way away and many others there hadn't an idea anything had occurred. I only saw the crash post impact.
'It's all a rather tragic end to a joyful day seeing the Hurricane and other planes flying after their winter maintenance.'
An AAIB spokesperson said: 'A multi-disciplinary team of AAIB inspectors has deployed to Duxford, Cambridgeshire, to begin investigating an accident involving a light aircraft.'
