A YOUNG trainee pilot who was following her dream of learning to fly died after crashing on take-off during a solo flight.

Lisa Knaggs, 21, formerly of West Pit Lane, Strensall, York, was practising the manoeuvre in a four-seat Cessna 172 aircraft at La Belle Airport in southern Florida when the tragedy occurred.

The flight was part of a full-time European Flight Training course in Florida, and she was just days away from receiving her official private pilot's licence.

Lisa's mother Julie Smith, 44, who now lives in Leeds, said it was always her daughter's ambition to become a pilot.

She went to Florida so she could pursue her dream more quickly, because the move would give her the opportunity of gaining more hours flying.

"I'm absolutely devastated," Julie said.

"She was so sweet and cute and so very, very happy out there (in Florida). She was my rock, my angel, my best friend."

Lisa, a former Escrick School and Huntington School pupil, worked at Clarks shoe shop, in Monks Cross, then New Look and later as an assistant manager at Clinton Cards, in Coney Street, York.

Her fianc, Craig Cooper, a trainee manager at Asda, in Monks Cross, who lived with her in Little Ouseburn, and in Fawcett Street, York, before she began her pilot training, planned to travel to Florida in two weeks time.

"She was just so sweet," he said.

"I've been working late so she could call me just before she went to bed to say 'goodnight'."

Lisa, who had already passed her flight theory exams, travelled to Florida to start the training early last month, and was the only girl in a class of 35.

She was set to train for a further nine months in Bristol, before building up more flight- time hours back in Florida.

Lisa's grandmother, Pat Smith, said: "She was the most beautiful girl in the world."

Julie, who has a villa in Florida where all the family planned to spend Christmas, said: "I know she was really enjoying the last couple of months of her life. I don't regret that."

The Cessna plane Lisa was flying had been leased to the flight school, and the crash is now subject to an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.

It is believed Lisa's body will be flown back to the UK tomorrow or on Monday so funeral arrangements can be made.

:: Tributes to 'the happiest student'

JULIE'S asked Lisa's fellow pupils and instructors on the flight course to email her their tributes. Here is a selection:

Mounee (Lisa's flight instructor) said: "Lisa was by far the happiest student I have had the pleasure of flying with, she made instructing a real joy.

"I will never forget how happy she was when we did a navigation exercise to West Palm Beach International. The controller gave us a clearance to land on the 'big' runway. I was sure we were given the privilege because she had a very sweet voice on the radio. She was all excited, grabbed my arm screaming:. 'We got the big runway, we got the big runway,' and couldn't wait to go home and tell the boys."

Duncan (Lisa's housemate) said: "Lisa was one in a million and will be dearly missed by all. I grew very fond of her as did all and feel a great emptiness now she's gone."

Chris (Lisa's housemate) said: "She made our time here truly enjoyable and I will miss her everyday. Rest in peace Lisa."

Iain (a fellow pupil) said: "She brightened up our school and brightened up our lives. She had the air traffic controllers eating out of her hand, and examiners asking who she was! I flew with Lisa twice and each time was a pleasure.

Updated: 08:32 Friday, October 21, 2005