Cape Town - A man aboard a gyrocopter suffered minor injuries when it crashed at the Fisantekraal Airfield near Durbanville.
It was not clear by late on Monday whether the pilot or passenger in the aircraft had been injured, but according to witnesses one of the two had injured a hand.
It was also not confirmed whether the crash occurred during the landing or the take-off.
City of Cape Town fire and rescue services spokesman Theo Layne said rescuers were called to the scene with reports that a “mini helicopter crash-landed”.
“But I cannot confirm what happened. When our officers arrived, the aircraft was already on the ground.”
He said rescue teams were alerted at 3.06pm.
Layne said there was no fire to extinguish, but he added that paramedics stabilised the two occupants who were taken to hospital.
At the time of going to press, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokeswoman Phindile Gwebu could only confirm that “an accident had happened” on Monday.
Police were at the scene while investigators were inspecting the wreckage of the yellow aircraft late on Monday afternoon.
It is believed that the occupants were members of the Aerosport flying club based at the airfield.
Some members arrived at the base to find out what had happened.
Hannie van Wyk, whose husband runs the club, said the incident happened very quickly.
“It was an accident and we’re just grateful nobody was seriously injured,” she said.
Johan Badenhorst, who has an aircraft at the base, said the CAA should inspect the grounds - particularly the landing area, where patches of grass were growing thick.
He said that the grass bushes were a problem because they were dangerous, particularly for gyrocopters.
“It was bound to happen,” he said.
He said that the grass interfered with a safe landing.
“This is a training school and we pay rent here where these grounds are supposed to be maintained. This is life threatening,” he said, pointing to the grass.
Cape Argus