Transport bureau to investigate light plane crash

Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have been called in after a light plane crashed on approach to Parafield Airport in South Australia last night.

Witnesses and emergency crews were forced to fight through live power lines to help a pilot who crashed his Cessna 172RG in Adelaide's northern suburbs.

The light aircraft crashed into a paddock just off Elder Smith Drive at Mawson Lakes, shortly after 6pm.

The scene is at the edge of Parafield Airport. The plane brought down power lines and flipped onto its roof on impact.

Two witnesses told 9NEWS they managed to avoid the live power lines to reach the pilot and give him first aid, before police, fire and ambulance crews arrived.

The pilot, a 55-year-old man, suffered chest, leg and arm injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

It's understood the pilot was attempting to land at the adjacent Parafield Airport when he got into trouble.

As part of the investigation, ATSB investigators will interview the pilot and other witnesses, review the aircraft’s maintenance records and any available recorded data, amongst other activities.

"Due to the limited scope of this investigation, the ATSB is not deploying Transport Safety Investigators to the site," a spokesman said.

"A report will be published at the completion of the investigation. However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties."

As many as 700 nearby homes and businesses were left without power as a result of the crash.