INVESTIGATIONS are underway to discover how a light aircraft stopped mid-air above Cheltenham and plummeted to the ground.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has begun inquiries after a plane crashed through trees into the garden of a home in Hatherley.
The pilot of the Cirrus single-engine aircraft managed to deploy the plane's ballistic parachute system which is installed to guide it safely to the ground in an emergency.
Miraculously, he walked away from the mangled wreckage with only minor injuries.
The 76-year-old was flying to Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton from London to pick up a colleague who had recently delivered his own plane for maintenance.
The plane crash landed in a back garden in Loweswater Close at around 10.45am yesterday – two miles from its destination.
Emergency crews are now deliberating how and when to retrieve the wreckage.
Gloucestershire's chief fire officer Jon Hall explained it would take up to 48 hours before they could remove the plane.
He also confirmed that fuel has been removed from the aircraft and the plane has been secured to prevent further damage.
A spokeswoman for the AAIB said they would file a full report into the incident, but not until they have been able to gather all the evidence required in the coming months.
Darren Lewington, airport operations manager at Staverton, added: "Our rescue and fire fighting service attended the incident with our specialist support vehicle and were able to liaise with emergency services at the scene.
"We train regularly for incidents of this nature, which are exceptionally rare.
"We are pleased that this incident ended without injury or major damage."
Witnesses watched in amazement as the plane spiralled out of control.
One witness, who lives in nearby Warden Hill Road, said the plane was very close to crashing into her garden but was swept away by the parachute.
Danella Mercati, 37, said: I was putting my washing out at the time and I could hear the plane in the distance.
"Suddenly it sounded like the plane's exhaust had gone and it was blowing really loudly.
"As I looked up, I could see the plane release its parachute.
"It was coming directly to my garden but then the parachute dragged it away and it crashed in the next road.
"The plane descended erratically, spinning over rooftops before crash landing."
Neighbour Adrian Phillips, 49, called 999 after the plane came to rest in a tree.
He said: "I feel the pilot was trying to guide the plane in some shape or form. There was a terrific bang (when it landed).
"Fortunately, it landed in probably the safest place it possibly could."
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