Tributes have been paid to a 21-year-old woman who died in a plane crash in the US.

Lisa Knaggs, of York, was following her dream of learning to fly when her aircraft crashed in southern Florida.

She crashed on take-off during a solo flight in a four-seat Cessna 172, at La Belle airport, while on a full-time training course.

She was only days away from receiving her official private pilot's licence.

Her ambition had been to become a commercial pilot and, having already passed flight theory exams, she had travelled to Florida early last month to train as the only girl in a class of 35.

Her fianc, Craig Cooper, who had lived with her before she began her pilot training, had been planning to fly out to be with her in two weeks time.

A trainee manager with Asda, he said yesterday: "She was so sweet.

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

Miss Knagg's mother, Julie Smith, 44, who now lives in Leeds, said she had been left devastated by her death.

"She was so sweet and cute and so very happy out there in Florida.

"She was my rock, my angel, my best friend."

The aircraft Miss Knagg was flying had been leased to the flight school.

An investigation has now been launched by the US's Federal Aviation Administration.