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Pilot lands plane after propeller falls off at 2,000ft Pilot lands plane after propeller falls off at 2,000ft
(about 3 hours later)
A pilot managed to glide his single-engined aeroplane to safety after the propeller fell off at 2,000ft (610m).A pilot managed to glide his single-engined aeroplane to safety after the propeller fell off at 2,000ft (610m).
The man was flying between Bodmin and Roche in Cornwall when he was forced to make the emergency landing at a country club airstrip near Polzeath just after 16:00 BST on Wednesday.The man was flying between Bodmin and Roche in Cornwall when he was forced to make the emergency landing at a country club airstrip near Polzeath just after 16:00 BST on Wednesday.
The club was evacuated during the landing. The pilot later had a glass of water there, said witnesses.The club was evacuated during the landing. The pilot later had a glass of water there, said witnesses.
The propeller was recovered from a building site in Polzeath.The propeller was recovered from a building site in Polzeath.
The pilot, Nick Chitterdon, said the aircraft is a vintage 1936 plane.
"When the propeller went there was a loud bang and it disappeared to the left.
"I switched the fuel off and started looking for field to land in. I then remembered a private airstrip at a nearby golf course and it took sometime to glide down."
'Very skilled pilot''Very skilled pilot'
Eva Davies, one of the directors at Roserrow Golf and Country Club, where the aircraft landed, said: "We had a phone call from the fire service who told us to evacuate the building, which included the restaurant, golf club, health club, gym, changing rooms, and swimming pool.Eva Davies, one of the directors at Roserrow Golf and Country Club, where the aircraft landed, said: "We had a phone call from the fire service who told us to evacuate the building, which included the restaurant, golf club, health club, gym, changing rooms, and swimming pool.
"The aircraft was spotted by a few golfers as it came in. He was gliding down straight on to our airfield."The aircraft was spotted by a few golfers as it came in. He was gliding down straight on to our airfield.
"Although he landed safely, within five minutes we had six fire engines, three police cars and ambulance here. They didn't know if he was injured."Although he landed safely, within five minutes we had six fire engines, three police cars and ambulance here. They didn't know if he was injured.
"The pilot then came in and had a glass water before he got a friend to fly in to to pick him up." "The pilot then came in and had a glass water."
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Thankfully, he was obviously a very skilled pilot.A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Thankfully, he was obviously a very skilled pilot.
"The pilot has recovered the plane, and the propeller which landed in New Polzeath has been recovered by the police.""The pilot has recovered the plane, and the propeller which landed in New Polzeath has been recovered by the police."
A spokesman from Bodmin Airfield said pilots were trained to glide in aircraft before "going solo" to prepare them for such incidents.A spokesman from Bodmin Airfield said pilots were trained to glide in aircraft before "going solo" to prepare them for such incidents.
The plane was an Aeronca. The incident has been reported to The Air Accidents Investigation Branch.The plane was an Aeronca. The incident has been reported to The Air Accidents Investigation Branch.