Two seriously injured in plane crash

A pilot and his passenger are seriously injured in hospital today after a light aircraft clipped a bungalow and crashed into the home's back garden.

One of the men, both thought to be aged between 60 and 70, suffered serious fractures and police said the second was in a more serious condition.

The Piper PA-22/150 Caribbean plane got into trouble as it flew over the village of Netley Marsh, near Totton, Hampshire, yesterday afternoon.

It clipped the roof of the bungalow in Woodlands Road, hit a greenhouse and landed in the garden, police said.

It is not yet clear what prompted the crash but the Air Accidents Investigation Branch last night carried out an initial assessment of the scene.

Both men were taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital and police said last night they were in a stable condition.

A police spokesman said the aircraft was flying from the Isle of Wight to another destination in Hampshire at the time of the crash.

"Fortunately the occupants of the house were not injured in any way but the pilot and passenger have injuries and are being treated at hospital," he said.

A number of Woodlands Road residents were evacuated as a precaution and the road was closed for a short time.

It may be closed again today while the plane, commonly known as a Tri-pacer, is moved from the garden.

A police cordon remained in place outside the bungalow last night.

Anyone who saw the crash or the plane prior to the accident is asked to call police on 101 or 0845 045 4545