Two people walk away from Balclutha plane crash

Saturday, 25 July 2015

A pilot and his instructor have survived a microlight plane crash in Balclutha.

Emergency services were called to the airstrip in the town 80km south of Dunedin after reports that a small plane crashed about 2.15pm Saturday.

A St John ambulance spokesman said two men were flown to Dunedin Hospital; one in a serious condition, while the other had moderate injuries.

A Civil Aviation Authority [CAA] spokesman said a pilot and his instructor were flying in a microlight aircraft at the time of the crash.

The CAA will be interviewing both people early next week but will not be sending an investigator to the crash site,' he said.

Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Temple said it was not known if the plane was landing or taking off in the moments prior to the crash.

Two ambulances and an Otago rescue helicopter were sent to the scene, the St John spokesman said.

Temple said police would provide an update later.