The deaths of two men killed after a vintage biplane crashed shortly after take-off have been ruled as accidental, an inquest court has heard.

Peter Stacey, aged 67, a builder from Shaftesbury, was the front seat passenger in a Tiger Moth biplane which crashed in crop field next to Compton Abbas Airfield in August 2017.

His family, who had purchased the ‘air experience’ flight as a gift, were at the airfield when the tragedy unfolded.

At the controls was Christopher Nicholls, a Blandford man with 47 years experience as a professional pilot. He was working for DH Heritage Limited at the time of the accident.

Both men died when the aircraft crashed and burst into flames after unexpectedly pitching down while returning to the airfield, after Mr Nicholls reported possible engine problems.

An extensive Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) probe, which was unable to identify any defects with the Tiger Moth, also concluded there was no evidence suggesting the cause of the aircraft’s final manoeuvre.

Yesterday at Dorset Coroner’s Court, Bournemouth Town Hall, after a five-day jury hearing prised over by Assistant Dorset Coroner Stephen Nicholls, conclusions of accidental death were agreed unanimously by the jury.

In relation to 64-year-old Mr Nicholls, the jury recorded his cause of death as head injury and the effects of fire.

The foreman of the jury said: “Mr Nicholls was an experienced pilot who was conducting an experience flight in a Tiger Moth. The plane proceeded to take off, but shortly after that Mr Nicholls radioed to the operation’s room that he was returning back to the airfield.

“Whilst returning there was an unexpected, unexplained manoeuvre causing the plane to pitch steeply down resulting in a crash into a field east of the airfield.

“On impact the plane caught fire.”

Meanwhile, in the case of Peter Stacey, who died of the combined effects of fire and multiple injuries, the jury foreman also formally returned a conclusion of accidental death.

The foreman said: “Mr Stacy arrived at Compton Abbas Airfield for an air experience flight in a Tiger Moth aircraft, which was a family gift.”

She added that Mr Stacey was met on arrival, that he filled in all the relevant paperwork and was given a full safety briefing.

After being escorted to the aircraft, assisted by ground crew and secured into the cockpit harness he was given a second safety briefing, including how to communicate with the pilot.