A pilot in his 70s has been airlifted to hospital after his light aircraft crashed during an emergency landing at North Pine Dam north of Brisbane on Wednesday morning.
Emergency Response at Samsonvale
The incident occurred around 9am on Wednesday when the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing on the banks of North Pine Dam in Samsonvale. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the crashed aircraft.
Queensland Ambulance service personnel assessed the pilot at the scene before he was airlifted via rescue helicopter to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Despite the dramatic circumstances, the man was transported in a stable condition.
Challenging Landing Conditions
The light aircraft came to rest in a boggy area near the dam, having experienced what emergency services described as a hard landing. The difficult terrain presented challenges for rescue crews accessing the site and managing the patient extraction.
Approximately five fire and emergency crews were tasked to the incident and remained on scene to secure the area and assist with the investigation. The crash site was described as being in a remote section of the dam banks.
Investigation Underway
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified of the incident and is expected to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing. Aviation authorities will examine what prompted the pilot to attempt the emergency landing and the factors contributing to the crash.
North Pine Dam, a popular recreational area north of Brisbane, became the unexpected landing site for the distressed aircraft. The area is known for its bushland surroundings and limited access points, which complicated the emergency response.
Local authorities have secured the crash site as the investigation continues, while the pilot receives medical treatment at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The condition of the aircraft and the specific model involved have not yet been disclosed by authorities.
