Saraburi plane crash injures 75 year old pilot near roadside shop
A plane crashed near a roadside shop in Phra Phutthabat district, Saraburi province, yesterday evening, March 15, striking power lines and a large tamarind tree and injuring the 75 year old pilot, police said.
Investigators at Phra Phutthabat Police Station were alerted by a member of the public that a small aircraft had gone down along a road in Moo 2 (Soi 6) and quickly arrived at the scene alongside rescuers from Ruamkatanyu Foundation.
Police found a yellow light aircraft bearing the English markings “US 27” on its wings and fuselage. The aircraft was found badly damaged.
The pilot, a 75 year old man from Lopburi, sustained minor injuries but remained conscious and able to speak. He was taken to Phra Phutthabat Hospital for treatment.
At the scene, officers also found a damaged spirit house believed to have been struck by the aircraft. A red Yamaha PCX motorcycle was found damaged.
High-voltage lines along the roadside were hit and brought down across four pole sections spanning about 2.5 kilometres, police said. Two sections of low-voltage lines covering about 1.5 kilometres were also damaged, causing a widespread power outage in the area.
Shop owner Achara Suksawat told reporters she was washing dishes when she heard a very loud engine noise approaching.
“I thought someone had brought a racing car to the resort nearby because the sound was extremely loud,” she said.
She said she then heard a crash and saw the aircraft hit the tamarind tree in front of her house before going down.
“I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. I ran out and saw an injured man lying there, still holding his phone.”
Achara said a small fire broke out after the crash, but she and her brother put it out with water before it spread. She said villagers and friends of the injured man later arrived and helped take him to the hospital.
She said residents told her the pilot was believed to be a flight instructor and possibly a military officer, though she said she could not confirm that information.
Achara said the tamarind tree in front of her house may have prevented the aircraft from crashing into the building.
She added that workers who usually sit under the tree to eat and drink were not there at the time. She said her nine year old grandson, nicknamed Boom, a grade 3 student at Anuban Phra Phutthabat School, had been eating instant noodles near the spirit house shortly before the crash and had just walked away. He suffered a minor head injury after being hit by a piece of debris.
Villagers working in nearby fields told police the aircraft had been flying unusually low and appeared to be having mechanical problems. Witnesses said they heard the engine rev loudly before the plane struck high-voltage lines, lost control and crashed into the tamarind tree in front of the shop.
Pol. Lt. Col. Saman said investigators initially believe the aircraft may have been returning from a training flight and attempting to land at a small private airfield called Thantawan, located about one kilometre from the crash site.
He said the pilot may have been trying to contact ground control to request permission to land when the aircraft malfunctioned, leading to the crash. Police said the investigation is continuing.
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