THE pilot of a light aircraft who died when his plane crashed on its way to Rochester Airport been identified as a 78-year-old John Goldsborough Hogg, of Old Broad Oak, Windmill Hill, Brenchley, near Tonbridge.

Mr Hogg was killed when the plane came down soon after take-off from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire on Friday. He had more than 55 years' experience as a pilot.

The plane was reported missing after it failed to arrive at Rochester. All other UK airfields were informed and police began a search.

The wreckage of the plane, a Cessna 182 four-seater light aircraft, was found in woodland on Saturday morning.

Mr Hogg was born in Middlesex in 1925 and towards the end of the Second World War served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He made his career in insurance and retired from the city in 1990.

He had lived in Kent since 1960 and is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sally, and two daughters.

Mr Hogg's leisure interests included golf, shooting, fishing and flying. In recent years he had flown himself as part of a small group of planes to Pakistan, East Africa and Alaska, and earlier this year had flown to South Africa.