Video: Plane makes emergency landing on Mona Vale Golf Course in Sydney

A light plane came down hard on Mona Vale Golf Course on Sydney’s Northern Beaches on Sunday in what authorities are calling an emergency landing gone wrong.

The Piper Cherokee, a single-engine trainer, had taken off from Camden just after 1pm and was due to land in Wollongong. But about an hour into the flight, the aircraft reportedly lost engine power, leaving the pilot instructor and his student with little choice but to bring it down.

Witnesses said the aircraft hit the ground around 2pm, skidding across the grass and leaving pieces of debris scattered across the green. Despite the heavy impact, the plane remained mostly intact.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene. The two men on board, both in their 50s, were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with what paramedics described as minor injuries.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed the flight was a training exercise and has now launched an investigation. Officials are calling for anyone with video of the plane’s descent or crash to submit it through the bureau’s witness portal.