Light plane dramatically flips in lake crash

A light plane carrying three passengers has dramatically flipped and sunk after plunging into a US lake when its engine failed.

The small red craft was flying over Lake Travis in Austin, Texas on Saturday afternoon when its propeller suddenly cut out.

“We heard the prop die and suddenly they hit the water, flipped and began sinking,” witness Jennifer Malone wrote in an Instagram post accompanying footage of the accident.

“It was so surreal... everyone began boating, jet-skiing, sailing, kayaking towards them.”

The passengers, the pilot and a father and son out on a birthday trip, were all rescued from the damaged craft before it sank. They suffered only minor injuries.

“The dad told me he’s been fighting cancer and the son told me he and his wife just had a new baby three weeks ago… (It) put life into perspective for both of them,” Ms Malone said.