Darlington: One killed in plane crash near Mortlake

A pilot has been killed in a fiery light plane crash in western Victoria.

The plane crashed into a paddock off the Hamilton Highway in Darlington, about 70 kilometres north east of Warrnambool, on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to the property about 9.30am.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said the plane involved in the crash appeared to be a single-engine, light aircraft and had only one occupant.

A police spokeswoman said one person had been killed in the crash, but could not confirm their gender or age.

Daryl Clark, whose farm neighbours the paddock where the plane went down, rushed to the crash site after one of his employees raised the alarm.

“When I got on there it [the plane] was 90 per cent burnt out and still on fire,” Mr Clark said.

“Then I realised, sadly, that there wasn’t going to be any hope for the person flying it.”

Mr Clark said a “huge fleet” of emergency services had arrived at the crash site, including fire trucks, six police cars and State Emergency Service crews.  

This story first appeared in The Age