November 29

Graham Hill: one of Britain's greatest motor racing drivers

England have

One of Britain's greatest motor racing drivers has been killed in a plane crash in south-east England.

Graham Hill, 46, who retired from the sport in July 1975, was killed instantly along with the five other occupants in his Piper Aztec - all members of the Embassy Hill team.

Mr Hill was piloting the plane when he clipped a row of trees on Arley golf course in Hertfordshire, just before 2200 GMT.

The two-times world champion was flying Embassy Hill manager Ray Brimble, fellow driver Tony Brice and his wife Janet, and two mechanics from France to attend a party in London.

Arley Golf Club steward Ted Dickins said visibility had been very poor at the time of the accident.

"It was terrible - the ambulances couldn't even see the bunkers as they were driving down," he said.

Friend and Elstree Aero Club chairman Spencer Flack said the champion driver was taking a risk by trying to land in bad conditions but told reporters he was an experienced flier.

"He was a skilful pilot who tried to get in and failed.

"In those conditions it's just a matter of feet and seconds between life and death," he said.

Government accident investigation officials aresiftingthrough the wreckage to try to establish the cause of the crash.   

All 111 passengers and seven crew died in the air disaster

The Trans-Canada Airlines DC8, bound for Toronto, crashed into a field, 20 miles from Montreal's international airport at 0632 local time (2300 GMT).

A spokesman for the airline said there was no immediate explanation why the aircraft crashed and burst into flames four minutes after take-off.

He confirmed that all 111 passengers and seven crew died in the crash.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing an explosion as the plane hit the ground.

Manager of the Hillsdale Golf Club, Monty Adams, said: "It sounded like an explosion or an earthquake.

"The night watchman at the course heard it too. But there was no indication of where it came from."

Parts of the wreckage were reported to be strewn across a wide area less than half a mile away (1km) from a main highway.

The aircraft was believed to be still burning two hours after the crash.

Rescue workers struggled to reach the jet because mud between the highway and the crash was at least a foot (0.3m) deep.

Quebec provincial police initially called for all ambulances to attend the scene but they were later cancelled after it was discovered that there were no survivors.

Police dogs were also sent to the scene to search for survivors but were then withdrawn when it became clear that there were none.

Canadian Transport Minister George McIlraith said investigators were on their way to the scene of the crash.

The accident comes just days after an identical TCA aircraft ran off the runway at London Airport.

An airline official said there was no connection between the two accidents. 

sift: to check and sort carefully（详审）