CAPTAIN David Bower, of Burnsall, was pulled to safety in a dramatic rescue by the armed services when his plane crashed on moorland near Fountains Abbey on Monday.

Capt Bower's Cessna 152 split into four pieces when it hit the ground trapping him inside and covering him in aviation fuel. RAF helicopters had to fly in firefighters to cut him from the wreckage.

Flight Lieutenant Patrick Thirkell, from the rescue co-ordination centre RAF Kinloss, said he thought the captain and his student pilot were on a training exercise, practising spinning.

"It looks like they could not recover from the spin," he said.

He added that flying instructor Captain Bower was probably coaching his student for a commercial flying licence.

Capt Bower only moved to Burnsall with his partner just over a year ago.

A friend told the Herald that he had previously lived in Yeadon, Leeds, and had worked at the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club at Leeds-Bradford Airport and in Newcastle as an instructor. Since getting his pilot licence, he has also worked as a long haul pilot.

Ft Lt Thirkell said what was remarkable about the incident was that the two-seater plane did not catch fire when it crashed onto Low Carle Edge in the Hambleton Hills.

The plane even had a petrol engine not the less flammable paraffin, used in most jets. "They were very lucky because the guy inside would have died no doubt," he added.

Helicopters from all three armed services were involved in the rescue. Army and navy helicopters were training in the area so both attended the scene, as did two RAF helicopters with medics.

When the RAF arrived on the scene, Ft Lt Thirkell said the student pilot Bernard Merlino, 35, of Wakefield, was miraculously pulling himself to safety despite a broken leg and he was helped out.

Four fire crews were sent from Harrogate, Ripon, Summerbridge and Masham and some of the firefighters had to be flown to the scene from a mile away to cut through the wreckage to free Capt Bower. "We could not really do much without them as we do not carry cutting equipment," said Ft Lt Thirkell.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said that the fire fighters had prepared themselves physically and mentally for the worst because of the nature of aircraft crashes. "Fortunately the pair were still alive and we were able to do something for them," he said.

The two casualties were airlifted to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton where Mr Merlino is described as comfortable and stable. Captain Bower was later transferred to Middlesbrough General Hospital for specialist treatment.

A spokesman from the Cessna's owner Multiflight, based at Leeds Bradford Airport said the men's injuries were serious but not life threatening. "The relatives of Captain Bower and Mr Merlino have been informed and are at the hospital," he said.

"Full assistance is being given to the families by everyone at Multiflight and a full and thorough investigation has already commenced. We are also liaising with the Air Accident Investigation Branch at Farnborough regarding this incident."

An Air Accident Investigation spokesman said they would get a report from the pilot and examine the wreckage. At this stage it was not possible to say when the investigation would be completed.

* A paraglider sustained back injuries when he literally fell out of the sky near Settle this week.

Paul Welch, 38, from Harrogate, crash landed just off the Malham road at High Hill and was attended to by cave rescue volunteers.

An investigation is to be carried out into the accident by the British Paragliding Association.

Mr Welch was taken to Airedale General Hospital, Steeton.

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