Student pilot killed in crash of microlight

By Yao Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-04 08:00

An aviation club was ordered to suspend operations on Monday after a microlight aircraft crashed into the Ming Tombs reservoir on Sunday afternoon, killing the student pilot and injuring his instructor.

Tang Kun died in hospital a couple of hours after the crash. Yu Qiang suffered fractures and is now out of danger.

The manager of the club is under police investigation, Mirror Evening News reported.

A press officer with Changping district police department confirmed an investigation was underway but would not comment further.

The microlight belonged to Beijing Flying-man Aviation Sport Equipments Co Ltd.

Witnesses say the aircraft took off smoothly from the airfield near the Ming Tombs reservoir, but started to shake violently when it was over the reservoir.

The aircraft crashed about 100 m from shore, leaving only a wheel on surface.

A man surnamed Liu, who helped in the rescue, said Yu was conscious but Tang was in a coma, Beijing Times reported.

They were taken to Changping Hospital.

At about 5 pm, the hospital announced Tang had died.

Tian Weidong, chief of the press section with Changping district government, told METRO on Monday that he had not heard of the accident and knew nothing about it.

Beijing Times quoted unnamed sources as saying many people were flying kites in the area and it is possible the aircraft might have tangled with the strings.