Plane flips at Hastings Aerodrome

The microlight ended the flight on its back. Fortunately the pilot was unhurt. Photo/Glenn Taylor

A trainee microlight pilot escaped unhurt after the small Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club machine he was in up-ended at the Hastings Aerodrome at Bridge Pa on Saturday.

The incident happened about 2.10pm as the man was practising a forced landing on undulating ground near a grass runway.

The Fire Service and St John Ambulance Service attended, but the man was out of the aircraft when they arrived.

He was checked by ambulance staff, and with no one trapped and no fuel leaks, the Fire Service stood by while a tractor was used to right the plane.

Chief flying instructor Max Dixon said the microlight, owned by the club for about a year and one of two microlights in a club-owned fleet of 14 aircraft, had minor damage and would soon be back in use.

It was possible, he said, the most serious damage was to the "ego" of the pilot, a Hastings man nearing the end of his instruction.