NSW: Two separate light plane crashes reported in NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2009
NSW: Two separate light plane crashes reported in NSW

EDS: Corrects literal in intro, adds detail

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - Two separate incidents involving light plane crashes were reported
in NSW on Saturday with injuries to both pilots.

A trainee pilot and his instructor have been injured after their glider hit a tree
and nose-dived into a creek in northern NSW.

The 58-year-old pilot was trying to land the aircraft at Tyagarah Airport at 11am on
Saturday when the incident happened.

"It clipped a tree, flipped and nose-dived into a creek," a police statement said.

The pilot's 54-year-old instructor managed to free himself and alert emergency services.

Fire crews and paramedics freed the pilot, who lives in nearby Oceans Shores. They
airlifted him to Lismore Base Hospital with back, chest and leg injuries.

The instructor, from Cudgera Creek, suffered lower back and chest injuries in the crash
and was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken by ambulance to The Tweed
Hospital.

A second pilot escaped with minor injuries following a plane crash on the NSW Central
Coast on Saturday.

A light Jabiru plane came down after taking off from Warnervale Aerodrome on the state's
Central Coast at 2.30pm.

Police said the pilot suffered only minor injuries.

"It's got into some difficulties not long after taking off," a police spokeswoman said.

The cause of the crash is not yet known.

A member of staff at the airport said the plane came down just outside the airport's
perimeter. It landed near Sparks Road.

AAP mg mmr/ht

KEYWORD: AIRCRAFT CRASHES (REISSUING)

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