A loving father and pilot who was killed when his aircraft span out of control and crashed into a Kent field died as result of misadventure, a coroner has ruled.

Angus Buchanan, 57, was practising a new manoeuvre with the Stampe Formation Display Team on Sunday, May 9, last year when he lost control and crashed in a field near Headcorn Aerodrome, between Maidstone and Ashford.

The air ambulance, as well as many other emergency services, were called to Little Luckhurst Farm, in Love Lane, Ashford, but the father-of-two was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest at Maidstone's Archbishop's Palace gave his cause of death as polytrauma, as a result of an aeroplane crash. Feb 1

During the hearing, which was attended by Mr Buchanan's wife Cecilia, daughters Hannah and Eloise and his brother and sister-in-law, the Australian born father was praised as a "witty, capable and curious" man.

A statement from Cecilia explained the "very happy family" had been locked down together during the pandemic at their home in Smarden Road, Biddenden, and were very close.

She said: "Angus was a hard-working, focused and meticulous man.

"He was witty, capable and curious. He was a loving father and we were a very happy family.

"He loved and was loved. He was happy and healthy.

"His death is a cruel and tragic loss of a very special life."

On Tuesday, Coroner James Dillon heard evidence from Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigator Robert Clements who had released a report on the events of the crash.

Mr Clements explained the experienced pilot began to spin out of control when attempting a "stall turn" manoeuvre and that the aircraft didn't have enough height to recover properly.

The AAIB report also explained there was no evidence of any faults with the aircraft which may have caused the crash and that it was in a "well maintained and airworthy" condition.

James Dillon concluded Mr Buchanan's death was as a result of misadventure.

Following his death many people paid tribute to Mr Buchanan, who had recently retired as a CEO, including his team mates at Stampe.

The team released a photo of their "very dear friend" and paid tribute to him, describing him as “an extremely experienced and talented aviator and engineer with many flying hours under his belt.”

Mr Buchanan had been flying a 1940s vintage biplane at the time of the crash.