Caloundra aerodrome: Plane ‘nosedives’, pilot injured

Witnesses to a light plane incident at a Sunshine Coast airfield have shared new details on how the “rare” crash landing unfolded.

Aerial shot of the Caloundra Aerodrome. Photo Contributed

New details into a “rare” light plane incident at the Caloundra Aerodrome on Wednesday morning have emerged with witnesses sharing the moments leading up to the incident.

Emergency services were called to the Pathfinder Dr aerodrome around 10.30am with reports a plane had “nosedived” and crashed.

Witnesses said the pilot – a recent flight school graduate – had privately hired the aircraft to perform circuits around the aerodrome.

Flight school owner Damien Wills said the woman was “shaken up” but OK.

A neighbouring flight school made radio calls to alert other pilots that the runaway was temporarily closed, while the aircraft was towed from the runaway.

“The students are learning to land, occasionally you get a hard landings, it’s just what happens,” Mr Wills said.

“The pilot was a bit shaken up, but they are fine.

“For context, there have been three out of 50,000 landings in 12 years at the aerodrome, so it’s very rare.”

He said engineers assessed the aircraft and found it needed a new nose leg and prop and could be repaired within a day.

Light planes grounded at the Caloundra Aerodrome on September 6. Photo: Iwan Jones

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the pilot was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition with minor injuries.

She said the plane was reportedly on its side, but there had been no explosion.

The pilot was the only occupant inside the plane, she said, who was “walking and conscious” when crews arrived.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said they had been called to an “aviation incident” at the aerodrome, but there was no further information at this stage.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokeswoman said one fire crew was at the scene and two other crews were on their way.

She said firefighters received a call about 10.40am with the caller reporting that an aircraft may have had a hard landing or landed incorrectly.

The Sunshine Coast Council-owned airfield is used by light fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters and general aviation-related businesses.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman said it would not investigate, due to the type of plane and the nature of the incident.

Council has been contacted for comment.