A passenger due to be collected by a helicopter which crashed in central London had suggested the pilot delay taking off, it has been revealed.
Pilot Capt Pete Barnes and a pedestrian on the ground died when the helicopter hit a crane in Vauxhall on 16 January.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch shows the client had concerns about the weather and twice suggested take-off be delayed.
The pilot responded by saying he was already starting his engines.
The interim report into the crash also says evidence indicates the top of the crane on The Tower, St George Wharf, was obscured by cloud and details the final exchange between the pilot and the air traffic controller.
Pedestrian Matthew Wood, 39, of Sutton, south London, was killed on the ground. He had been walking to work.
The Met Office said at the time of the crash the area was prone to widespread low cloud, poor visibility and patches of freezing fog.
Mr Barnes, 50, was flying from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey to Elstree when the helicopter crashed into the crane and the burning wreckage fell into Wandsworth Road.
His client, who has not been named, called him at 07:18 GMT to discuss the weather.
Mr Barnes told him he thought it might clear earlier than forecast.
At 07:31 the client called again and said that having seen how “poor” conditions were on his way to Elstree he suggested the pilot not take off.
After arriving at Elstree at 07:46 and finding he could not land, the pilot was going to turn back to Redhill but decided to make a diversion to Battersea Heliport.
He was held hovering between Vauxhall and Westminster bridges while the controller checked if it was clear to land at Battersea.
After being told the heliport was open, he replied: “Lovely. Thanks.”
Moments before hitting the crane, his final words were: “Thanks a lot.”
The AAIB was notified of the crash at 08:20.
In the report, the AAIB said it would “conduct a detailed inspection of recovered wreckage and helicopter maintenance documents, and an analysis of weather conditions”.
It added: “The investigation will also examine the conduct of this flight, regulation of flights over London, planning guidance and regulations relevant to development around aerodromes, and the lighting of obstacles.”
