INVESTIGATIONS will be launched into the cause of a light plane crash in Port Macquarie that has left one man in a critical condition and a woman in hospital with serious injuries.
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The accident occurred at about 8.30pm on Friday, September 8 just south of the Port Macquarie airport.
The man, a 25-year-old trainee pilot, was winched from the accident site by Westpac Rescue Helicopter and flown straight to John Hunter Hospital where is being treated for multiple injuries to his head, chest, pelvis and limbs. He remains in a critical condition.
A 25-year-old woman, a flying instructor, was found outside the plane.
She was retrieved from the accident site with serious multiple injuries including fractures to her upper arm, pelvis and shoulder, and several lacerations.
She was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter returned on Saturday morning and was expected to airlift the woman to Liverpool Hospital in Sydney as her condition remains serious but stable with suspected internal trauma.
It is believed both the instructor and trainee were conducting a night flying training exercise from the airport.
The pilot was forced to launch a distress beacon just south of the Boundary Street runway before the plane crashed into dense swamp land and communication was lost.
Inspector Stuart Campbell said the emergency distress alert was received by Australian Search and Rescue in Canberra who contacted police.
Police from the Mid North Coast Local Area Command attended with the Aviation Support Branch (PolAir) providing specialist air crash investigation support.
A multi-agency search and rescue was activated headed by the State Emergency Service, Fire & Rescue with the assistance of NSW Ambulance who were forced to access the difficult site via Lindfield Park Road off the Oxley Highway.
A paramedic and a doctor were dropped into the site by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to provide initial treatment as emergency crews made their way through the difficult terrain, a helicopter spokesperson said.
Family of the injured survivors rushed to Lindfield Park Road to await emergency crews who had both patients retrieved from the accident site by midnight.
Inspector Campbell said at this stage it is unknown what caused the accident.
A crime scene was established.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Peter Gibson said the plane involved was a Diamond DA40 NG, “a small aircraft”.
It is part of the fleet of light planes from the Australian International Aviation College in Port Macquarie.
The site will be off limits while inquiries into the incident continue.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau officials will be involved in an investigation into the incident which will commence on September 9.
The Australian International Aviation College was contacted for comment.
Inspector Stuart Campbell: