This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-34537135
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Pilot lands plane after propeller falls off at 2,000ft | Pilot lands plane after propeller falls off at 2,000ft |
(35 minutes 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. | 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. | "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." | "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 The Point at Polzeath 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." | "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. |