A teenage pilot who was killed when his plane crashed in Sydney was taking part in his first-ever solo flight.
The 16-year-old boy, who is yet to be identified, was training for a recreational pilot’s licence when the Cessna 172 plane he was travelling in went down near Camden, in Sydney’s southwest, on Wednesday afternoon.
The boy had been approved by instructors to fly without supervision before taking off from Camden airport at 3.05pm.
At 3.07pm, the plane from a nearby flying school, reached an altitude of 1500 feet, before contact was lost less than a minute later.
The teenage pilot was halfway through flying a 6km loop when the plane smashed to the ground just nine kilometres from Camden Airport.
Emergency services were called to Brownlow Hill Loop Rd in Brownlow Hill at 3.15pm following reports of the crash.
“During the left turn onto the base leg of the circuit, the aircraft has rapidly descended and collided with terrain,” Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell told 7News.
‘Doesn’t look good’
Another pilot flying overhead saw the wreckage and called it in.
“I think we’ve got an aeroplane on the ground here Dennis … It doesn’t look good,” the second pilot is heard saying in radio audio obtained by Nine.
“Mate, it doesn’t even look like an aeroplane, unfortunately.”
Images taken of the wreckage show the aircraft has been left unrecognisable following the incident.
Police have cordoned off the paddock where the shattered plane lies and established a crime scene.
According to 7News, the teenager dreamt of becoming a pilot and had only joined AltoCap Flight School in Camden last month.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association CEO Benjamin Morgan told the outlet the teenager was “very bright and enthusiastic”.
In a statement on Facebook, AltoCap Flight School offered their condolences to the pilot’s family and said staff were fully co-operating with authorities.
“The AltoCap Flight Training family extends its deepest sympathies to the parents, family and grandparents of the pilot involved, and our thoughts are with them all during this most difficult time,” they wrote.
The flight school has grounded its fleet following the incident.
Under civil aviation laws, a student needs to be over 15 years old to fly solo and 16 to obtain a recreational licence.
A private pilot licence can be applied for at the age of 17.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the circumstance surrounding the crash.