Inquest opens into death of pilot whose light aircraft crashed into reservoir
Peter Beeson was the sole occupant of the plane when it crashed at Hanningfield Reservoir on December 28 last year
An inquest has been opened into the death of a pilot whose light aircraft crashed into a reservoir.
Peter Beeson, of Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, was the sole occupant of the plane when it crashed at Hanningfield Reservoir near Chelmsford, Essex, on December 28 last year.
Essex area coroner Michelle Brown said the 66-year-old's body was recovered by police divers on December 30.
Opening and adjourning the inquest on Thursday, Ms Brown said Mr Beeson's death was officially "confirmed only upon retrieval" of his body, at 1pm on December 30.
She told the hearing at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford that police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Mr Beeson was identified by dental records and his provisional cause of death is "pending toxicology", Ms Brown said.
She said the matter is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
"They say they hope to get the investigation report within six months," she said.
She said a date for the next hearing would be set administratively.
Essex Police said the Beagle B121 Pup aircraft had left North Weald Airfield just before midday on December 28 and crashed at Hanningfield Reservoir at around 2pm.