Pilots warned of water-in-fuel danger after fatal plane crash in Fife

Pilots are being given updated safety advice about the dangers of water contamination in fuel systems after a fatal plane crash near Fife Aiport. Pilot Nicholas Denison-Pender, 50, from Perthshire, died when his plane crashed near Kinglassie on 23 December 2024. The UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report on the incident said there was "significant water contamination" present in the four-seat single-engine plane's fuel system. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also reviewed its safety guidance and run maintenance roadshows to advise pilots on pre-flight fuel sampling techniques. A colleague of Denison-Pender previously paid tribute to his "inspiring balance of passion, kindness, and intelligence". On the day of the crash, CCTV in Kinglassie, a mile south-west of the scene, recorded the sound of an engine misfiring, followed by images of the plane crash. A witness at the airport reported hearing a brief mayday call from the pilot. The AAIB report said significant water contamination was present throughout the aircraft's fuel system. Inspections of the wreckage showed the right-hand wing filler cap grommet was cracked and "could have allowed rain to enter the fuel