An investigation into the death of a soldier from Leedstown who dies in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan have said human factors, including a deliberate sharp descent, were to blame.

Corporal James Walters, 36, of the Army Air Corps, was one of five personnel killed when the Lynx helicopter he was in crashed into a dry riverbed while on a training mission in Kandahar province last April.

Now an investigation report from the Military Aviation Authority has found that actions by the pilot, including a manoeuvre intended to induce a weightless feeling in his passengers, may have caused the deaths.

A recording of the pilot's communication just prior to the helicopter's final descent records him asking the aircraft commander if everyone was safely strapped in, before talking of "a good bit of floaty, " which the panel assessing the crash said "might indicate that the pilot intended to induce a floating sensation (a low 'G' manoeuvre)."

During an earlier descent, "laughter was recorded... followed by somebody on board stating that they were getting 'Voyager flash backs,'" which the report states may have referred to a flight on a Voyager A330 aircraft that created a weightless feeling when it lost height quickly.

The Lynx aircraft on which Corporal Walters was flying was carrying two passengers, as opposed to one passenger in another craft involved with the training mission, and it is believed that in allowing both passengers to fire a gun, against regulations, the pilot may have prolonged te mission and made an accident more likely.

The panel also concluded that pilot fatigue, a loss of situational awareness and the failure to properly set an audio altitude warning system could have been contributing factors.

The report concluded: "There is much to learn from this tragic accident with an experienced crew being caught out on a relatively simple tack on a perfect weather day. Whilst no single factor led to this accident there were disappointing aspects including planning, briefing, authorisation supervision currencies training and adherence to checks and procedures."

Corporal Walters died alongside Captain Thomas Clarke and Warrant Officer Class 2 Spencer Faulkner, also of the Army Air Corps, together with RAF intelligence officer Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan and Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas of the Intelligence Corps

He leaves his wife Tracey and daughter Lainey.