Spitfire crash landing near Auckland, New Zealand

spitfire_crash_2The owner and pilot of a World War II Spitfire has walked away unhurt after crash landing near Auckland, plane has some damaged.

The pilot of a rare Spitfire has walked away unscathed after the plane crashed at Ardmore Airport, south of Auckland.

The Fire Service says the rare World War II aircraft was coming into land when it crashed just before midday.

The pilot, owner Doug Brooker, was the only person onboard and was not injured, but the aircraft’s undercarriage has suffered damage.

A Civil Aviation Authority safety advisor has been at the scene and has given the approval for the aircraft to be removed from its position just off the runway.

The authority has launched a routine investigation into the crash.

The aircraft has only been returned to flying condition recently after a similar landing accident at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton in January, by the same pilot.

Source: NZPA