The family of the man who sadly died following a helicopter crash in Bentley, Doncaster, having taken off from Gamston Airport in Nottinghamshire have released a tribute to him.
At 10.14am on Thursday (30 October), we were called to Ings Road, where it is reported that the helicopter crashed in a field.
The helicopter involved was carrying out a private flight which took off from Gamston Airport near Retford shortly before it crashed.
Officers and emergency services colleagues are in attendance at the scene as part of a multi-agency response.
Peter Smith, aged 70, suffered serious injuries in the crash and despite the best efforts of medical staff, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The pilot, a 41-year-old man, and two other passengers, a 58-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, received minor injuries.
Peter’s family have shared the following tribute:
“On Thursday 30 October we as a family sadly lost Peter in the most tragic of circumstances when he was involved in a helicopter crash in Bentley, Doncaster.
“Peter was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and we are all devastated by this sudden loss. Peter was one of the smartest men who liked to spend his time making and fixing things. He had a real passion for aviation, and this was something he shared with his family.
“He particularly liked to spend time with his grandchildren doing crafts and playing. He was a proud family man who spent a lot of his time with his son both working with and socially. Peter loved to have meals out with his wife and had a particularly sweet tooth.
“We understand that a parallel investigation is currently underway between The Air Accidents Investigation Branch and South Yorkshire Police which we are supporting, and we ask members of the public to not speculate on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“We would like to ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult time to allow us to come to terms with what has occurred and grieve for the loss of Peter.”
As part of our investigation, we are asking for anyone with information to get in touch. If you were in the area at the time and saw the events unfold, please contact us. We are particularly keen to hear from those with footage of the helicopter leading up to the crash.
If you can have information which could help the investigation, please contact us online or by calling 101, quoting incident number 218 of 30 October 2025. You can report online here.
You can submit footage of the incident here.
