Emergency Landing NW Victoria
From NEWS Ltd Breaking News:
A LIGHT plane on its way back from a medical clinic has made an emergency landing in a paddock in north-western Victoria.
The pilot managed to land the plane safely in the paddock in Kalpienung, about 310km from Melbourne, before a wheel snapped off, causing the plane to flip on its roof.
Investigators have been told the two people in the plane were returning from Edenhope, about 395km north-west of Melbourne, after conducting a medical clinic, police said.
The pilot, a 54-year-old doctor from Mildura, and his passenger, a 58-year-old woman from Swan Hill, were treated for shock at the scene and taken to Swan Hill Hospital as a precaution.
Police said the plane started having engine troubles at 7500 feet and dropped to 3000 feet.
The pilot initially managed to rectify the problem and the plane climbed to a height of 3500 feet before again experiencing engine trouble.
Police said the pilot managed to land safely in a paddock at about 4.30pm (AEST) but as he was turning the plane the front wheel dug into the ground and snapped off, causing the plane to flip onto its roof.
"The pilot has done a great job in landing the plane safely," Senior Constable Matthew Jenkins said.