Air crash near Freshwater

By Dave Newble

Saturday, September 1, 2012

 

Air crash near Freshwater

The light aircraft, which crashed at Tapnell Farm, Freshwater, Isle of Wight. Picture by Peter Boam.

UPDATED 20:35*

A LIGHT aircraft has crashed at a farm near Freshwater, Isle of Wight, this evening (Saturday). 

The aircraft, with two people on board, came down at Tapnell Farm, Newport Road.

The fire service received an emergency call at 6.50pm.

*When they arrived at the scene they found that the pilot, a man in his late 40s, was already free of the aircraft. He had suffered an ankle injury.

The passenger, a woman in her late 20s, was suffering from shock, according to police at the scene. 

Both were taken to St Mary's Hospital and had arrived there by 7.30pm. It is not known if they were related.

The plane had taken off from a private airstrip at Wilmingham Lane, Freshwater and was also due to land there, when the accident occurred.

Inspector Kelvin Shipp said: "The Air Accident Investigation Branch has been informed and the plane will remain here until Monday."

Initial reports said the aircraft was a light aircraft but it has now been confirmed it was a microlight plane.