Two injured in plane crash in Hopeland near Baldivis in same location where a man was killed a year ago

Two people are in Royal Perth Hospital after surviving a miracle plane crash in Hopeland, south east of Baldivis, in the same location a pilot was killed 12 months earlier. A two-seater single-engine ultralight aircraft plunged into the ground at about 9.40am on Sunday, injuring a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s. The incident happened at the Serpentine Airfield strip, which is operated by the Sport Aircraft Builders Club of WA. The white, red and blue Cirrus 24-8088 appeared to have lost an entire wing and its propeller in the crash but its tail remained mostly intact. The crash occurred about 500m inland from the end of Yangedi Road, near a runway strip in dense bushland. Snr Sgt Philip Bonner said the plane, which was dual controlled but flown by the man, crashed on landing. Police said the cause of the crash was still unknown. The pair were trapped in the aircraft and had to be removed by emergency services. The pilot, who is understood to have decades of experience, and his passenger, are believed to have non life-threatening injuries. “It’s a very rare occurrence that this happens (people survive plane crashes),” Sgt Bonner told media crews at the site. He said the operation included three or four police units. DFES also confirmed several fire crews were called - including the Rockingham Fire and Rescue team. Police were blocking the entrance to the air club and did not allow members to enter the premises. One man had driven three hours to pick up a separate plane but had to wait at the entrance. The last of the emergency crews vacated the site after 1pm, about three hours after the crash. Authorities appeared to begin removing the wreckage about 2pm. Lou Marino, a member of the Serpentine Airfield Club, said the club had about 300 members, many of whom were elderly. Mr Marino said Sundays were usually busy because many members enjoyed going for joy flights on weekends. The West Australian counted more than half a dozen other planes landing on the strip, which were unrelated to the crash. Mr Marino said many of the planes at the club were handmade by aircraft enthusiasts, although the plane involved in the crash is believed to be commercially built. The latest crash comes a year after a pilot was killed at the same location after a suspected engine failure. Darren Brady died on December 28 after plunging into a paddock near the club’s runway. Mr Brady was described as an outstanding and methodical pilot with lots of experience. Club president Dave Olney was contacted for comment.