Staff Writer, with CNA
A microlight aircraft crashed into wetlands 3.5km from the mouth of the Tachia River in Taichung County yesterday, injuring the pilot, coast guard officials said.
The 33-year-old pilot, identified only by his surname, Chen (陳), managed to reach land, breaking one of his legs in two places, but otherwise escaping injury. He was later described as being in stable condition after treatment at a nearby hospital, officials said.
Chen’s aircraft took off from a dry river bed in Shenkang Township (神岡), but crashed after the pilot lost control of the aircraft in strong wind, officials said.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said yesterday that it had launched a probe into the incident and that part of the investigation would focus on whether or not the flight was legal.
Under the government’s light aircraft management regulations, only those who are CAA-qualified pilots are allowed to fly such aircraft and only in specific airspaces.
If Chen is found to have been flying illegally, he will be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000, the CAA said.
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