POLICE today named the man killed when an aircraft hit a crop-spraying tractor and crashed at an East Anglian airfield as Ian Davies.

POLICE today named the man killed when an aircraft hit a crop-spraying tractor and crashed at an East Anglian airfield as Ian Davies.

The 49-year-old, from Topcroft near Bungay in Norfolk, was director of Business Development for East Anglian Daily Times and Evening Star publisher Archant.

The two-seater aeroplane he was travelling in burst into flames after the accident which happened as it approached the runway to land at Seething Airfield in South Norfolk shortly before 2pm yesterday.

Fire crews cut two casualties free from the shattered fuselage and paramedics tried to resuscitate the men.

One man, a 51-year-old, was airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with critical injuries, but Mr Davies was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Davies worked for various parts of the Archant operation since 1990 and previously held responsibilities in market research, marketing, and as managing director of the commercial radio investment subsidiary.

Prior to joining Archant, he worked as a journalist, radio presenter and producer, and television news reader.

The tractor driver, named as Andrew Hill, escaped serious injury but was recovering at home after being treated for shock. The aircraft came to a halt 30ft from his vehicle, which was on a field next to the runway.

Norfolk police said the matter had now been passed to the Air Accident Investigation Branch who will carry out a full investigation into the cause.