Sybille Gautrey of Hazel Crescent was one of four people aboard a twin-engine Cessna 402C which collided with a single-engine Rand KR-2 in the skies near Coventry Airport at around 11.30am last Sunday.

This week, Mrs Gautrey's family have paid warm tributes to a 'kind, generous and loving mum, daughter, wife and friend.'

They said: "She made the most of the opportunities presented to her, and tried to do whatever she was asked and more to the best of her abilities, seeing things through to the end.

"Flying was her passion as well as her chosen career. She understood aviation, what it entailed and the professionalism and dedication that it required. She had a lot more to give and will be greatly missed."

Mrs Gautrey, who was ground operations director and chief training captain at survey company Reconnaissance Venture Ltd (RVL) based at Coventry Airport, grew up in East Germany and came to the UK in 1997, eventually settling in Towcester with her husband and daughter.

The other Cessna occupants who also died in the crash have been named as Harvey Antrobus, 28, from Fillongley in Warwickshire, James Beagley, 34, of High Wycombe and Sophie Hastings, 28, from Swadlincote in Derbyshire. They were also employees of Reconnaissance Venture Ltd.
The pilot of the Rand KR-2, who also died, has been named as Brian Normington from Leamington Spa.

RVL director, Steve Guyan, said: "All the staff at RVL have been deeply shocked and profoundly upset by the loss of four friends and colleagues in last Sunday's mid-air collision near Coventry Airport.

"As a small company of fewer than 60 people, we all knew and had deep affection for our lost colleagues and will miss them terribly as we attempt to come to terms with our future without them.

Their loss will be felt for a very long time. In due course we will find a fitting way to pay tribute to them."

Wreckage from the collision has been transferred to the Air Accident Investigation Branch facility in Farnborough for detailed analysis.

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