Two men were lucky to escape serious injury or worse following their light plane crash at Armidale Regional Airport today.
At 12:25pm Wednesday May 3, emergency services attended a single engine aircraft that crashed onto a grass strip upon landing at the local airport.
“They’ve come into land, the wheels have touched ground on the runway and a gust of wind has lifted the craft up and it has nose dived into the grass,” said Inspector Darren Williams from the Armidale Police Station.
“They came in at the right angle, its just a freak gust of wind.”
Two men, aged 25 and 53, were trapped by confinement inside the aircraft and were freed by emergency services a short time later.
“There was a compound fracture to the pilot, to his left leg, and facial injuries as the result of the cockpit as it slammed into the grass,” said Inspector Williams.
“Lucky to come away alive.”
They were treated at the scene by paramedics before being transported to Armidale hospital.
The older man has since been air lifted to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been advised and investigations are still ongoing.
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