Thai-German pilot injured in small plane crash near Pattaya airfield

PATTAYA – A Thai-German pilot was seriously injured when a small aircraft crashed into a wall at a scrap-buying business near a private airfield in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, on Tuesday.

The crash occurred at about 11.30 on 13 October near Buraphathit Airfield, also known as Eastern Airport Pattaya, in Soi Thung Klom-Tan Man 15, Moo 8, Nong Prue subdistrict.

Police from Nong Prue station and rescue workers rushed to the scene, where they found a single-engine, two-seat aircraft, blue with white stripes and bearing registration HF-FPD, wrecked against the wall of a scrap-buying business about 100 metres from the runway. The impact damaged the wall and roof structure, while the smell of fuel spread across the area.

The pilot, identified as Martin Huber, 32, a Thai-German national who reportedly owned the aircraft, suffered a fractured left upper arm and a large facial wound. Rescue workers provided first aid before taking him to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.

Somchai Topphon, 52, a local resident who recorded part of the incident, said the aircraft had taken off from the airfield about two minutes before he saw it circle back to land.

He said the pilot appeared to attempt a landing but then tried to climb again in a go-around manoeuvre, reportedly because the engine lacked sufficient power. The aircraft subsequently crashed beyond the end of the runway.

Chumphon Maneechot, 42, who owns the damaged business, said he had been sitting at the back of a vehicle when he heard a sound resembling an aircraft engine cutting out. The plane then slammed into his property’s wall.

He said the aircraft narrowly avoided crashing into the roof of his house, although a broken tree branch struck the building and caused damage. He said he had never experienced anything like it before.

Flight accident investigators have cordoned off the area. Flight Sergeant First Class Pornchai Boonmuang, an official with the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee, said a larger investigation team, including aviation engineers, would examine the wreckage and determine the cause of the crash. Investigators would also seek information from the pilot.