[Cap'n Wannabe]

Full report here, and watch the video of the story..

Pilot and trainee fighting for life after light plane crash in Melbourne

A pilot and learner pilot are in a critical condition after the light plane they were flying crashed during a training session in Melbourne.

Crews were called to Pound Road in Clyde North just after 10.30am after witnesses reported seeing smoke come from the plane.

Witnesses said it appeared the pilot was looking for a place to land, before signalling a mayday call and crashing into a paddock.

Firefighters had to cut the pair out of the wreckage, with one of the men, aged in his 20s, trapped for hours. He was eventually freed, suffering serious neck, chest and back injuries, and was flown to The Alfred Hospital.

The other man was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition.

Both men remain in a critical condition this evening.

The Bristol [sic] single-engine aircraft was operated out of Moorabbin by Learn to Fly Melbourne.

One thing I noted from the video was "their full report into what caused the crash could take six months"....but I guess we're talking RA-Aus, and not the ATSB, given the ATSB will only get involved if there are fatalities.

EDIT: Sadly, the young (19 yo) student pilot passed away yesterday afternoon.