EXPERTS will recover the charred remains of an RAF training jet which plunged into a field in North Yorkshire in an effort to discover the cause of the crash.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) today confirmed that an RAF board of inquiry would be established to look into why a Hawk training jet crashed into a field at Sinnington - only yards from houses and a main road.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing an explosion before the plane smashed into a disused railway cutting near Dawson's Wood, close to the A170 between Kirkbymoorside and Pickering.

The pilot ejected and was not seriously injured. He was taken to Scarborough Hospital for treatment and was later released.

An MoD spokesman said the board would look at a number of possible causes of the crash, including the possibility that a bird became lodged in the engine.

But he said until the remains of the aircraft had been examined, and the black box was studied, any theories were only speculation.

No one on the ground was hurt when the plane crashed, at about 12.46pm yesterday.

Janet Pearson, 45, who owns Strawberry Fields Sinnington - close to where the pilot landed in his parachute - said she heard a loud bang before the crash, a noise she thought was a quarry blast.

She said: "There was a great loud bang and at the same time I looked out and there was a jet aircraft in the air.

"The wings were wobbling a bit then one of our fruit pickers said 'look, a parachutist'. I dashed around the back to phone 999."

While Janet was phoning the ambulance, her sister, Angela Asquith, 42, ran towards where the parachutist had landed.

Angela said he was a young man and had no visible injuries, although he was complaining of back pain.

Angela said: "I spoke to him, he was lucid and talking. He said his back hurt, but he could feel his legs."

She said ambulance crews were quickly on the scene.

Superintendent Barry Honeysett, from North Yorkshire Police, said the Hawk jet narrowly missed the busy A170.

"Certainly it was a great blessing - it obviously came down close to the road and fortunately it has not impacted," he said.

"I think we have been very lucky on this occasion - any time an aircraft comes down there is the potential for casualties on the ground."

About 25 police officers from Ryedale, Hambleton and Scarborough were called to the crash scene.

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, July 24, 2003