Aircraft 'crash' at Bankstown

[Paul McFarlane]

I always feel sorry for the pilot in these circumstances.

SOURCE: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/first-solo...0412-s22f.html

April 12, 2010 - 12:24PM

A pilot crash-landed at Sydney's Bankstown Airport during the pilot's first solo flight.

The pilot was not hurt in the accident, which occurred about 9.30am today, a spokeswoman from the Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown said.

"A single engine aircraft has made a heavy landing this morning," she said, adding that the emergency service plan had been activated.

The pilot's instructor was supervising nearby and, when the plane came down heavily, he rushed over to the aircraft, leading to incorrect media reports that there were two people on board.

The airport spokeswoman could not say if the pilot was male or female.

A minor fuel leak was being cleaned up by fire brigade officers, she said.

One of the three runways at the airport remains closed.