Vic: Lucky escape for crop duster pilot

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2004
Vic: Lucky escape for crop duster pilot

A Victorian pilot whose plane hit a tree and broke into pieces in the state's west
has walked away with only a broken arm and minor facial injuries.

A police spokesman says the man, aged in his 30s, took off in the crop duster from
Stawell in Victoria about 9am (AEST) and travelled five kilometres south before getting
into trouble.

The spokesman says it's believed there was a downdraught and the pilot tried to dump
the cargo before the plane struck a tree.

He says the crop duster broke up into three pieces.

A spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says they'll will investigate the crash.

AAP RTV rb/dk/jv/rp

KEYWORD: CROP (MELBOURNE)

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