Trapped pilot saved from fiery plane crash near Moorabbin Airport

Footage from the scene of a plane crash near Moorabbin Airport showed how rescuers raced in to help the trapped pilot.

A pilot had a miraculous escape after he lost control of his light plane before it nose­dived, hit a tree and flipped on its roof in Heatherton on Tuesday.

The sole occupant, aged in his 50s, had taken off from Moorabbin airport about 12pm but within minutes his Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six was in trouble.

The man flew over a golf course before losing control, causing him to crash into a tree near Henry St.

“It is a pretty bizarre scene,” a witness told the Herald Sun. “It was a shock to see.”

Victoria Police said the plane crashed into trees shortly after takeoff from Moorabbin Airport.

Ambulance Victoria Clinical Support Officer, Cam, said authorities initially thought the crash happened at Moorabbin Airport, which caused “difficulty” in locating the crash site.

“It was a single occupant, early 50s I believe, with head injuries and cuts and grazes. He’s very lucky,” Cam said.

“At this stage we’re not saying it looked to be too serious but he does have head injuries so there’s potential he could deteriorate.

“He was conscious and moving around in (the) aircraft but he was very dazed.”

Fire crews at the scene of a plane crash in Heatherton. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The plane landed in parkland close to Moorabbin Airport. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Cam said the man was “too confused” to talk about what had caused the accident.

“He’s gone to a major trauma centre being The Alfred hospital.”

Cam said firefighters worked quickly, spraying fire-retardant on fuel that was gushing from the plane and isolating the battery.

“The plane was pretty much torn apart. He was trapped for approximately 12 minutes before we were able to get a spine board and get him out.”

“Luckily we’re not in a residential area, I think he’s done a really good job to head over to unoccupied areas. He obviously had a little bit of a plan to land on the grass strip.”

Cam said the quarry workers did a “great” job helping the crashed pilot.

“You are always concerned when people rush in to an incident like this because there’s fire concerns but good thinking of them to have a fire extinguisher with them before they ran in,” he said.

The aircraft flipped on to its roof in the crash. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The pilot suffered serious injuries. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Herald Sun understands workers from a nearby clean-fill site were the first responders.

Worker Abel Teke was one of the first responders to the crash.

“I was just coming out of the quarry here, I looked up and I saw the plane but I didn’t hear it,” Mr Teke said.

“I had the radio up pretty loud. I thought to myself ‘geez that looks too low’, next thing I saw the plane hit the tree and went nose-first into the ground.

“Pretty crazy thing to see. The whole plane flipped on to its roof.

“Straight away, I parked up and called the boys on the radio, ran up to the bloke and got a couple of fire extinguishers and tried to pull him out but he was unresponsive.

“He was unconscious for a bit but then we saw him move his buckle and wiggle around a bit.

“There was no fire but there was a bit of smoke coming out.

“We told him ‘don’t move’ cause the ambulance and fire crews are coming.

Police, firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Quarry worker Abel Teke was one of the first responders to reach the plane after it crashed. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Dozens of firefighters and police remained on scene at 1pm, piecing together what led to the crash.

Workers were seen speaking with police as they continued their investigation.

“The exact cause is yet to be determined and the investigation is ongoing,” a police spokeswoman said.

“(Emergency services) were able to get him out and treat him.

“Hopefully the poor guy is okay and he can get back to his family.”