A pilot who died after a microlight plane hit a pylon and crashed into a field near Rochester has been identified.

The 56-year-old man from Essex was pronounced dead at the scene in Burrows Lane, Middle Stoke after his aircraft came down at 4.15pm yesterday.

Emergency services arrived to find the plane engulfed in flames, and firefighters used foam to put it out.

Scroll down for audio

VIDEO: The plane was engulfed in flames.

The Kent Fire and Rescue crew were joined on the scene by police, ambulance teams, UK Power Networks and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch.

A spokesman for the Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch said they were looking into the incident.

Witness Max Williams was parked in nearby Upper Stoke talking on his phone when he watched the tragedy unfold.

The 22-year-old, of Heron Way, Lower Stoke, said: "I was watching the plane thinking 'if that's coming in to land it's definitely going to have an accident' as the runway was about 200 yards to the right of where the plane was heading.

"Then it got lower and the wing clipped the pylon and threw the plane to the ground. Within seconds it was up in flames.

He added: "I know a few people who fly down there and was really hoping it wasn't anybody I knew."

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called to Burrows Lane in Rochester at 4.18pm on Sunday 20 March after receiving a report that an aircraft had come down.

"Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Secamb, UK Power Networks and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch attended.

"A 56-year-old man from Essex was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. There are no reports of anyone else being in the aircraft."

Emergency services remain at the scene today as the investigation continues.