Two experienced pilots seriously injured after plane crash

Two experienced pilots are fighting for life in hospital after their single-engine aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Orange Airport, in New South Wales’ Central West.

Ben Wheeler, 46, was doing a training exercise with industry veteran and instructor Catherine Fitzsimons when his Cirrus SR-22 stalled and slammed into the ground about 7pm yesterday.

The pair has been practicing take-off and landing procedures when they struck trouble while on their final approach.

“They had a crash landing, which resulted in a fire,” Jason Speight from NSW Ambulance said.

The four-seater aircraft speared into farmland 200 metres north of the runway before bursting into flames.

An aerial medical rescue team based in a hangar at the airport witnessed the plane hit the ground and were able to rush straight to the scene.

“The plane crashed probably about 300 to 400 metres away from them,” Superintendent Chris Taylor said today.

“A very unfortunate incident but in some ways they are fortunate.”

Both victims suffered serious burns to their arms, legs, heads and airways as well as multiple fractures. They were flown to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and aviation industry. Benjamin Morgan from the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association said Mr Wheeler was on a “normal training flight”.

“Our thoughts are at the moment with both Catherine and Ben and we hope that they have a speedy recovery,” he said.

The Mayor of Orange Reg Kidd said the incident “puts everyone on edge.”

“The most important thing is we figure out why it happened and put measures in place so hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

A colleague of Ms Fitzsimons told 9NEWS that she is both “rare and very, very dearly loved.”

A team of three investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will be onsite in the coming days as they investigate the crash.