A pilot killed when his gyrocopter crashed in a Dorset field was named today as retired Army officer, Brian Errington-Weddle.

The 57-year-old, from Blandford St Mary, died at the scene when his aircraft fell 500 feet to the ground at Kington Magna, near Gillingham at around 6.59pm last Thursday. Witnesses described a rattling noise before the rotor appeared to come off in mid-air, the engine stalled, and the aircraft spiraled down.

He was flying to Henstridge airfield after a day's flight to Little Rissington, Gloucestershire when the accident occurred.

An inquest into his death opened and adjourned yesterday.

Paying tribute to Mr Errington-Weddle, his wife, Bronwen Jones said "Always an active man, he was a keen pilot, ski instructor and member of local running clubs.

"His family have requested that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."

Around 30 firefighters and eight appliances were initially sent to the crash site, an area in the middle of farmland close to a housing estate.

The aircraft, also known as an autogyro, looks like a small helicopter and can fly slow and low to the ground.

Police sealed off the scene of the crash – close to Back Lane and Hill Meadow – while they awaited the arrival of the Air Accident Investigation Branch, from Farnborough in Hampshire, later that evening.

The AAIB is investigating what caused the crash with the support and assistance of Dorset Police.

A Dorset Police family liaison officer was immediately appointed to assist the family of Mr Errington-Weddle.

The Civil Aviation Authority was also informed of the crash.