Last year’s light aircraft crash in Co Wicklow, which claimed four lives, took place "in weather conditions not conducive to safety'', a report has revealed.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) said the aircraft was "flown over mountainous terrain where severe turbulence and mountain wave activity were probably encountered''.
The evidence, it added, "indicates a relatively low-speed impact in a nose-down attitude typical of a stall''.
The crash of the private plane took place on the Wicklow mountains on Saturday, October 25th, while on its way from Gloucester airport in England to the air strip in Kilrush, Co Kildare.
Those killed were Sharif Booz, a property developer and pilot from Bristol, and his wife, Margaret, their 14-year-old son, Aymon Booz, and his friend of the same age, Charles Froud.
The report noted that Mr Booz had been the victim of "a personal assault'' the day before the flight. A pathology report, it said, "found no evidence to suggest there was any significant injury arising from the assault'', which would have affected his ability to fly the aircraft.
However, it said the investigation "accepts that the pilot was suffering from some degree of shock as a result of the attack''. It added that it was unable to determine whether this had any bearing on the accident.
The reports said the accident "was not survivable'', adding that all safety harnesses were properly fastened and remained intact during impact.
