An air accident investigation team has begun its inquiry into a light aircraft crash near Swansea that killed one man and left another in hospital. The two-seater plane flipped over on landing on farmland at Grovesend at about 1340 GMT on Sunday.
The aircraft, believed to be en route from Cardiff to Swansea, hit a power line as it came in, cutting power to a nearby village. Emergency services were alerted after Swansea airport received a mayday message, and walkers and cyclists directed them to the scene.
Upon arrival, rescuers found the passenger had crawled out of the wreckage, but the pilot was more severely injured and died at the scene. The passenger was taken to hospital by air ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
Luke Treharne, a member of the medical team, said access was difficult due to the downed power line hidden in trees and barbed wire fencing. The plane narrowly missed a house and ended up on its roof.
Councillor David Beynon noted that the crash could have been a major catastrophe, as the nearby garden centre is usually busy on Sundays. Accident investigators are examining engine failure as a possible cause.
