Pilot survives Gold Coast light plane crash

A pilot has miraculously survived after his light plane crashed in dense bushland on the Gold Coast.

Bleeding and trapped in the mangled wreckage of his plane, Ian Mewett suffered severe leg injuries, including several broken bones.

The plane took off from Coombabah airport but then lost power 60m into the air.

Witness Chris Leon was first on the scene.

“He was obviously looking for a place to do a forced landing,” Mr Leon said.

“I think he was probably aiming at this road and didn't make it.

“Nobody could find the wreckage, so I got back in my plane and went and found it.”

Badly injured but still conscious, Mr Mewett called his wife Kerry then could do nothing but wait until emergency services arrived.

With help from the jaws of life the 65-year-old was freed about an hour later.

Although badly injured, the pilot's wife says it was his many years of experience that saved his life.