Plane crashes into residential street in Melbourne leaving one dead

Witnesses describe 'ball of flame' at centre of single engine aircraft

A plane was left in "ball of flames" after it crashed onto a street in the Australian city of Melbourne. The 50-year-old male pilot, died at the scene.

The single engine aircraft came down and clipped the edge of a house. Power lines were also brought down in the area.

Witnesses said the plane was on fire in the middle of the street.

One man said he saw a “ball of flame” at the centre of the plane.

"I heard the thump and didn't pay much attention, thinking it was just a car accident down the road somewhere and then the whole neighbourhood went nuts with non-stop fire brigades, ambulances, police,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

He added: "A neighbour was walking his child down there and scooted out of the way real quick and it was just a ball of flame all the centre of it."

Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Edward from Victoria Police said the flames were put out "quite quickly" after the Metropolitan Fire Brigade arrived.

"There was very minor damage to a vehicle in the street," he said.

The exact cause of the crash is unknown and The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau has launched an investigation.