Saxophonist, 36, who performed on BBC Proms was killed along with her composer husband, 50, and their six-month-old daughter when their light aircraft crashed into the Alps at ‘almost flat’ altitude, court told
- Jonathan Goldstein, 50, was piloting the plane when it crashed into the Alps
- His saxophonist wife, Hannah, and their baby daughter were also killed
A saxophonist who performed on the BBC Proms was killed along with her musician husband and their six-month-old when their aircraft crashed into the Alps at an ‘almost flat’ altitude’, an inquest has heard.
Jonathan Goldstein, 50, was piloting the plane when it crashed into the northwest flank of the Hübschhorn mountain in Switzerland, the inquest was told.
Tragically, the aircraft was also carrying his wife Hannah, 36, and their daughter Saskia as it flew 2200 feet below the recommended height through the Alps.
Ms Goldstein – who had performed at the Royal Albert Hall in her career and often appeared on BBC Proms – had taken off from North Weald Airfield in Essex the day before with her family.
Her ‘Prince Charming’ composer husband, who obtained his pilot licence in 2012, had crossed the English Channel for the first time in 2017 and prior to the accident in 2019, he had flown over the Alps just once.
Assistant Coroner David Manknell later found that the family were tragically killed due to the lack of training and experience of the pilot.
Hannah Goldstein – who performs under her maiden name Marcinowicz – and her six-month-old baby Saskia were tragically killed in the plane crash in 2019
Her ‘Prince Charming’ composer husband, Jonathan, obtained his pilot licence in 2012
‘Hannah certainly had to kiss a lot of frogs before she met her prince charming, Jonathan’, Mrs Goldstein’s father Leszek Marcinowicz told the inquest
The Inner London South Coroner’s Court heard the family took off in a single-engine Piper PA-28 Cherokee Arrow, making stops in Troyes, France and Lausanne, Switzerland ahead of flying to Italy.
Mr Goldstein, the pilot, had flown for a total of 365 hours by 4 August 2019, the inquest heard.
He took off from Lausanne at 9.43am and was flying at an altitude of 4,100 feet, travelling at 120 knots.
At 10:23am, he turned right, towards the Simplon Pass, and two minutes later witnesses saw the plane hit the north face of the Hubschorn mountain.
The aircraft impacted with the terrain at an almost flat altitude and the plane burst into flames.
Mr Goldstein was flying 2200 feet below the recommended height through the Alps, but an investigation was unable to determine why.
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It was a clear, sunny day, visibility was 70km or more, with a wind of eight knots, the inquest was told.
Assistant Coroner Mr Manknell said: ‘He had limited experience in mountain flying and never received any adequate training.
‘I do find that a lack of training and experience in mountain flying contributed to the accident.
‘Overall, I find that the accident in which the pilot lost control at low altitude caused the stall.’
He added that the ‘lack of anticipation caused the stall, which caused the crash.’
Mr Manknell said: ‘It seems to me that I cannot find that it was grossly negligent and consequently criminal.
‘There is no evidence that there is such deviation to what would be expected.
‘Having considered it very carefully, it is not open to me to come to a conclusion of unlawful killing.
‘I have also considered a short form conclusion which is not in the list which is air accident.
‘It seems to me that saying it was an air accident is not enough.’
Following the loss of three lives, Mr Manknell said he would write a recommendation to the Civil Aviation Authority that those with PPL (A) pilot licences should take necessary training to fly over mountains.
Mr Goldstein assisted on the soundtrack for Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear, as well as re-recordings of famous soundtracks such as the score to the director’s classic movie Taxi Driver
Jonathan Goldstein, 50, was piloting the plane when it crashed into the northwest flank of the Hübschhorn mountain in Switzerland, an inquest was told
The family had been on holiday before they plunged 6,500 feet in the crash over the Simplon Pass on their journey from Switzerland to Italy. Pictured: The scene of the crash
He added: ‘It is my opinion that I do have a concern that future deaths could occur and that actions should be taken to prevent future deaths.
‘The training that Jonathan had was not appropriate for mountain flying.
‘It seems to me that is certainly possible to be replicable. I therefore do make a recommendation, which I make to the CAA and I ask them to consider it.
‘The recommendation will make clear that the PPL is less than is required in at least one other country.
‘It is not for me how this can be remedied.’
At the inquest, Mrs Goldstein’s father Leszek Marcinowicz read a moving poem about his daughter.
The grieving father told the inquest: ‘Hannah was born in London on 15 May 1983.
‘She was a delightful blond baby and a happy, smiley toddler.
‘Hannah was a bossy little girl and fiercely protective of her brother Adam.
‘She was a very bright child and musical from an early age. Music was Hannah’s all encompassing passion.
‘She was always keen to keep learning and keep practising her technique. First and foremost, Hannah was a performer.
‘She poured so much energy into everything she did, even her teaching.
‘There have been many highs in Hannah’s performing life, performing at the Proms in 2005, and another highlight was the concert she played at King’s Place, London in 2017.
‘Hannah certainly had to kiss a lot of frogs before she met her prince charming, Jonathan.
Pictured: Mrs Goldstein with her daughter, ‘happy baby’ Saskia
Pictured: A graphic showing the scene of the plane crash in the Swiss Alps
The Coroner’s Court heard the family took off in a single-engine Piper PA-28 Cherokee Arrow, making stops in Troyes, France and Lausanne, Switzerland ahead of flying to Italy
‘They met at a recording studio and they collaborated on projects. It had taken both Hannah and Jonathan a lot of time to find each other.’
Mr Marcinowicz added: ‘Although Hannah’s main passion was music, she was also a good tennis player and always enjoyed a glass of rosé in the club house after.
‘Her wonderful giggle stayed in mind, as did the fact she never took no for an answer.
‘If a restaurant said they were fully booked, she would always say: ‘Are you sure you cannot squeeze us in?’ and they inevitably did.
‘She was so full of energy and happiness, such a genuine pleasure to be around.
‘It is no surprise that Saskia was such a happy baby.
‘Hannah was a calm mother. She was ever the optimist, faced with a dull, grey day, she would wear colour, ‘much more fun,’ she said.
‘For Hannah’s 30th birthday, I entered her into a sprint triathlon without telling her.
READ MORE – Tragedy as award-winning British composer, his BBC Proms star wife and their baby are killed in Swiss Alps plane crash
‘She completed the event with a big smile on her face, raising a substantial amount of money for Rich’s treatment in the process.
‘We are so proud of Hannah and all she has achieved, both musically and personally, we admired her never give up attitude.
‘She and Jonathan were only together for a short time before tragedy struck. Hannah and Jonathan were such a great partnership.
‘On 2 February 2019, they received the most precious gift possible, a beautiful baby girl – Saskia.
‘She was a delightful baby, full of smiles and she went everywhere with them.
‘Hannah was a brilliant mum to Saskia and loved sharing new experiences with her every day. The tragedy truly cut short three lives that had so much to offer the world.
‘Her premature death has robbed audiences all around the world of a wonderful performer.
‘Hannah’s family, friends, professional colleagues and the classical music world have lost a wonderfully talented and beautiful human being.
‘Our lives have changed forever and I would like people to bear this in mind.’
Mr Goldstein assisted on the soundtrack for Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear, as well as re-recordings of famous soundtracks such as the score to the director’s classic movie Taxi Driver.
As the founder of the Goldstein Music Group he worked on music for high profile advertising campaigns featuring dozens of international brands, including American Express, Lexus and Sony.
Mrs Goldstein, who performed under her maiden name of Hannah Marcinowicz, played with some of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.
The inquest continues.
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