WA: Ultralight aircraft pilot lay injured for 18 hours

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2009
WA: Ultralight aircraft pilot lay injured for 18 hours

PERTH, Dec 7 AAP - The injured pilot of an ultralight aircraft spent more than 18 hours
in a paddock after crash-landing in Western Australia's south-west.

Police said the 53-year-old pilot dragged himself from the wreckage of his Tecnam 5550
ultralight aircraft after it apparently ran out of fuel near Scott River, north of Augusta,
about 5pm on Sunday.

They could not confirm reports the man had used a lighter to ignite bales of hay during
the night in a bid to attract rescuers.

While 16 aircraft were deployed on Monday in a search for the man, who had been expected
to arrive in Bunbury from Narrogin about 3pm on Sunday, a passer-by discovered him in
the farm paddock shortly after 10am.

He told police the man "had been knocked around a bit but was basically okay".

A helicopter took the pilot to Bunbury Hospital suffering suspected serious spinal
injuries before he was relayed to Royal Perth Hospital.

Two brothers were killed in Victoria in an ultralight crash near Yarrawonga, on the
Murray River, on Sunday.

AAP was/jpm/de

KEYWORD: ULTRALIGHT WA WRAP

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.