A Longford community is in shock after a man aged in his 40s died when his single-seater plane crashed yesterday evening.

William Hillick from Mullingar in Co Westmeath died when his single-seater aircraft came down at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome at around 6pm yesterday evening.

Emergency services attended the scene and the pilot was taken to hospital.

He was later pronounced dead.

The gardaí and the Aviation Authority are investigating the cause of the crash.

Patrick Conboy, journalist with the Longford Leader newspaper, says the plane was recently acquired in Germany and this was one of its first flights since:

The tragedy comes almost one year after a helicopter crashed into the side of a pub near the village, before falling onto its side on the banks of the Royal Canal.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Mick Cahill says it is another sad day for Abbeyshrule.