Updated, 2.20pm:
A man in his 50s, believed to be from the Gold Coast, has died in hospital after the ultralight ‘trike’ he was piloting spiralled into a nosedive this morning soon after takeoff from Tyagarah Airstrip.
The man is yet to be formally identified.
Police from Tweed Byron Local Area Command will be working with investigators from Recreational Aviation Australia, and the NSW Police Force’s Aviation Support Branch to determine the cause of the crash.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.
At 9.30am the pilot was till in the aircraft, with paramedics simultaneously extricating and treating him, according to Roger Fry from the Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.
‘We will be transporting him to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment,’ he told Echonetdaily.
Although he was conscious at the time of the accident, the man is believed to be in a critical condition.
A pilot who regularly uses Tyagarah Airstrip says he does not believe the man whose aircraft crashed near the airfield this morning is a local.
Rick Bowie told Echonetdaily he believed the crashed vehicle might have been a red ‘trike’ (a gravity controlled motorised hanglider) that had been seen flying out of Tyagarah Airstrip this morning.
‘It’s none of the Tyagarah regulars but who ever it is would have had to use the airstrip to take off. ‘
‘I don’t think it’s anyone local,’ he added.
The man was spotted by another pilot who regularly uses the airfield, who then notified emergency services.
A Tyragarah Airstrip user who declined to be identified said the crash had occurred ‘almost immediately upon takeoff’ leading him to suspect the pilot may have had a heart attack.
Original report:
Emergency services are responding to the crash of an ultra-light aircraft at Tyagarah this morning.
A witness alerted police about 8am (Tuesday 23 June 2015), when he saw the aircraft drop out of sight near the Pacific Highway, about 10km north-west of Byron Bay.
The crash site was found about 200m off the Pacific Highway a short time later; male pilot is reported to be conscious and breathing but suffering suspected fractures.
NSW Ambulance and the LifeSaver Rescue Helicopter are at the the scene now.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.
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