Club members watch in horror as plane crashes
Feilding aviation members watched on in horror when two gliding club pilots struck trouble in the sky on Saturday, with one plane crashing into a tree leaving its pilot with serious injuries.
Whanganui-Manawatū Gliding Club president Ross Anderson said the crash happened during normal club flying activities after a Piper Pawnee plane, towing a glider, got out of position on tow above the Feilding Aerodrome.
The tow plate was pulled around into a position where the pilot of the Piper Pawnee could not recover it.
Anderson said he and other club members watched as the plane hit a tree about 20 metres from the aerodrome.
‘‘It was gut-wrenching to watch it unfold in front of us all. We are a really close-knit club and both the people involved have been in the club for a very long time.
‘‘A lot of us saw what happened. It was just horrible and will take us all a bit to come back from it.’’
Anderson said prior to the crash, the rope between the glider and plane broke, allowing the glider pilot to make it back to the airstrip and land safely with no injuries.
‘‘But the plane pilot is not so lucky, he’s in a bad way, I’d say critical, so it’s devastating for everyone.’’
Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Taonui Rd at 2.05pm.
Fire and Emergency NZ Central shift manager Chris Dalton said six fire engines and two support vehicles from Palmerston North, Bunnythorpe and Feilding brigades went to the scene.
He said fire crews were required to free the pilot, who was trapped.
A police spokesperson confirmed the pilot suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital in the rescue helicopter.
The Civil Aviation Authority has been notified.
Stuff has reached out to MidCentral DHB for an update on the pilot’s condition, but is yet to receive a response.
‘‘It was gut-wrenching to watch it unfold in front of us all. We are a really close-knit club and both the people involved have been in the club for a very long time.’’
Ross Anderson
Whanganui-Manawatū Gliding Club president