A second man has died following an aircraft crash in Co Wicklow at the weekend.
Dr Michael Slazenger (69), whose family are heir to the famous Slazenger sportswear brand, had been in a critical condition in hospital since the single-engine plane which he was piloting crashed on Saturday afternoon.
The retired anaesthetist had been attempting to land the aircraft at a private airstrip on the Powerscourt estate in Co Wicklow when the plane’s wing struck a tree.
He died from his injuries in the early hours of this morning, gardaí confirmed today. Noel Whitney (66), who was a passenger on the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Last night, the wreckage from the aircraft remained at the site. The Air Accident Investigation Unit had carried out a technical inspection, but further work was required before it could be removed, said Leo Murray, inspector of air accidents with the Air Accident Investigation Unit in the Department of Transport.
Once that is completed, the wreckage will be brought to Gormanston Army camp, in Co Meath, for further tests.
The single-engine two-seater kit aircraft, a Falco EI BMF, belonged to Dr Slazenger and was based at the private airstrip at Powerscourt. It was one of the few Falco aircraft in the country.
Mr Murray, who is leading the investigation, said he had not yet ascertained why the aircraft climbed out of an attempt to land at the private airstrip on the estate, near Enniskerry.
The aircraft was on a local flight and was approaching to land, Mr Murray said. It then “executed a go around”, climbing out of its landing course, and during that procedure, it struck the top of a tree which was in line with the runway.
Preliminary results from the investigation into the accident will be available in a month’s time.
Dr Slazenger retired from St Vincent’s University Hospital in 2005. The Slazenger family are heirs to the famous sportswear and equipment brand that bears their name.
Their father, Ralph, came to Ireland from England in 1953 when he bought Durrow Abbey in Co Offaly. He moved to the 4,000-acre Powerscourt Estate in 1961 after selling his company Slazenger to Dunlop.