Brain tumour man in biplane suicide

A pensioner who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour hired a vintage biplane and jumped to his death from 400ft, his family said today.

Joseph Frost, 88, told relatives he wanted to make the flight to celebrate his 88th birthday. But it was in fact a plan to take his own life.

"I think that was Dad's idea to go out in a flash of glory," said his son Robert Frost, who helped organise the half-hour flight.

Joseph Frost, from California, had recently been told by doctors that he had a tumour on the brain and had started to lose his vision.

His son told the San-Diego Union-Tribune he had little doubt his father jumped deliberately.

The pilot of the Steerman PT 17 biplane - similar to one Mr Frost flew in World War Two - tried to wrestle the elderly man back to his seat.

But Mr Frost tumbled over the side at about 400ft, landing on a patio in front of horrified witnesses.

"I saw him hit the power lines, heard trees breaking. I really thought it wasn't real," said Cynthia Lankford, 33.

Mr Frost, a retired land developer, left a wife, Margaret, and their four sons.