Lucky escape for Riverland light aircraft pilot

Police arrive at the site of the stricken aircraft. Picture: David Sickerdick/THE MURRAY PIONEER PTY Source: AdelaideNow

The stricken aircraft finally rests against a tree stump. Picture: David Sickerdick/THE MURRAY PIONEER Source: AdelaideNow

< Prev

 of 2

Next >

The pilot, aged in his 40s or 50s, landed in a paddock 2km down Lyrup Flats, about 5km from Renmark Airport, shortly before 4pm.

Renmark Metropolitan Fire Service senior firefighter Ray Cowey was one of the first on the scene.

"Apparently his engine cut out, he had to do an emergency landing and nearly landed on the dirt road but he ended up in the paddock, he said he had no injuries," Mr Cowey said.

"He was more embarrassed than anything, I shook his hand and said 'You've done well', he had a lucky escape and he did a very good job."

Mr Cowey said the light plane, a Jabiru, "my have been a write-off, in my opinion".

He said three Metropolitan Fire Service crews responded quickly to the crash.

A South Australian Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the pilot was checked by crews at the scene but not transported to hospital.

The light plane crash comes one day after a Qantas flight from Darwin made an emergency landing at Adelaide Airport.

The Boeing 767, with musician John Butler and the Victorian Bushrangers cricket team on board, activated emergency procedures when a landing gear warning light illuminated, but the plane landed safely on Monday shortly after 5pm.