Famous Brit composer, BBC Proms star wife and their baby killed in plane crash
A composer, his musician wife and their six-month-old baby were killed when their light aircraft crashed into the Alps and burst into flames, an inquest heard.
Jonathan Goldstein, 50, was piloting the single-engine Piper PA-28 Cherokee Arrow when it hit the northwest flank of the Hübschhorn mountain in Switzerland on August 25, 2019. Mr Goldstein, his wife Hannah, 36, and baby Saskia had taken off from the North Weald Airfield in Essex the day before.
The couple landed in Troyes, France before making a second stop in Lausanne, Switzerland ahead of their next flight to Perugia in Italy. Mr Goldstein was an award-winning music producer and ran a company specialising in making music for TV adverts, as well as composing for screen and stage himself.
Mr Goldstein, 50, performed at high-profile concert venues including the Royal Albert Hall (Internet Unknown)Ms Goldstein was a saxophonist, who had performed at high-profile concert venues including the Royal Albert Hall and often appeared on BBC Proms. Mr Goldstein, who obtained his PPL (A) pilot licence in January 2012, had flown for a total of 365 hours by August 4, 2019, Inner London South Coroner's Court heard.
He had crossed the English Channel for the first time on April 14, 2017 and prior to the accident, he had flown over the Alps just once. Mr Goldstein took off from Lausanne at 9.43am and was flying at an altitude of 4,100 feet, travelling at 120 knots.
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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.
The couple passed away after the plane crash in Switzerland (Facebook)Mr Goldstein was flying 2,200 feet below the recommended height through the Alps, with an investigation unable to determine why. It was a clear, sunny day, visibility was 70km or more, with a wind of eight knots, the court was told.
Ms Goldstein's father Leszek Marcinowicz read a moving poem about his daughter and told the inquest: "Hannah was born in London on May 15, 1983. She was a delightful blonde 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 practicing 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. 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."
Mrs Goldstein and her husband had welcomed baby Saskia in February 2019 (Internet Unknown)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 clubhouse 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. She completed the event with a big smile on her face, raising a substantial amount of money for Rich's treatment in the process.
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"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.
The musician played with some of the UK's leading orchestras (Facebook)"On February 2, 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.
Ms 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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