Two escape injury after Sydney plane crash

A light aircraft on a training flight has narrowly avoided homes as it crash landed in a reserve in Sydney's southwest.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday," the panicked pilot said in a call to Bankstown Airport tower after 3pm Tuesday.

"We have engine failure ... I'm trying to land aircraft in the field."

The PA-28 Cherokee passed over West Hoxton flying east before making two sharp turns left and eventually coming to rest in a reserve, not far from several properties.

Footage of the crash site showed both of the plane's wings were badly damaged and one was detached.

"There were two people on board with one suffering a minor injury," a police spokeswoman told AAP.

"It is expected the matter will be investigated by aircraft investigators."

The pilot walked away from the crash with a suspected broken finger and sore leg.

"I have some injury, but overall I'm okay," he told the Nine Network.

The aircraft is advertised by Sydney Aviators as being available for hire from $290 per hour.

The company refused to confirm any details about the incident and declined to comment.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said the plane was completing a training flight and the authority would receive a report from the flying school to review.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has also begun an investigation and will release a report in coming months.

"As part of the investigation, the ATSB will obtain an engineering report, interview the flight crew, and gather additional information," the safety watchdog said.