Aircraft cartwheels during crash

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/7298767.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A pilot has been taken to hospital after his plane crashed at an airfield in Kent.

The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, had been flying a single-seater Druine Turbulent at Headcorn Aerodrome when his wing clipped the ground.

Eyewitnesses said the wood and fabric aircraft broke up as it cartwheeled to a stop at about 1530 GMT on Saturday.

The pilot was dazed but conscious following the incident and taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

It is thought the man crashed after misjudging a flypast manoeuvre.

'Precautions taken'

Aerodrome operations manager Jamie Freeman said: "His wing touched the ground and the Turbulent cartwheeled and then came to a stop.

"He was wearing a bone dome [helmet] so that helped. There were two paramedics and a surgeon on the field that went across. All precautions were taken and he was given oxygen."

Mr Freeman added: "The aircraft is made of wood and fabric and broke up as it should do. They are designed to so that the engine falls away from the pilot."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been informed.