A report into a fatal crash which killed a pilot at Beccles Airfield is nearly ready for public release.

One year on from the tragedy, investigators have confirmed they have almost completed their probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Emergency services were called after a light aircraft crashed at the airfield on Thursday, March 24.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have said their investigation into the incident is "nearly complete".

An AAIB spokesperson said: "It is now one year since this tragic accident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the pilot who was fatally injured. 

"The investigation is nearly complete and the final report into the accident is expected to be published in the spring of 2023."

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The light aircraft crashed into the rapeseed field next to the Beccles Airfield runwayThe light aircraft crashed into the rapeseed field next to the Beccles Airfield runway (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Police, fire crews and the ambulance service were dispatched to the scene at about 2pm on the day.

At about 9pm that day, Suffolk police confirmed that the pilot had died.

Nobody else was on board the aircraft when it crashed in the rapeseed field at the airfield.

Some 11 emergency service vehicles were called, including seven fire engines from Woodbridge, Leiston, Wrentham, Beccles and Lowestoft South stations.

An area of the airfield was cordoned off while emergency services attended the scene.

The AAIB began their investigation the day following the crash and said at the time they believed the investigation would take around a year.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: A shot from the sky of Beccles Aerodrome taken in February 2023A shot from the sky of Beccles Aerodrome taken in February 2023 (Image: Denise Bradley)

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The AAIB investigates civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents, establishing what went wrong and making recommendations to prevent similar crashes.

The aircraft was later transported from the Ellough site back to the AAIB base in Farnborough, Hampshire, for further investigation.

The airfield is used by the Rain Air Flying Club, used by trainee pilots looking to gain their private pilot's licence, and by UK Parachuting and Mid Anglia Microlights.