Merriton plane crash: Father and son killed  in South Australia

A father and son have died after their plane crashed into power lines before crashing in a field at the weekend.

Ben Mumford, 50, and his son Charlie, 24, were flying their Cessna plane when trouble struck in Merriton, South Australia, at 4.10pm on Sunday.

SA Police received reports that the plane had hit power lines and crashed into a field.

Charlie died at the scene while his father suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a local hospital before being taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Charlie Mumford (right), 24, died at the scene after a minor plane crash at Merriton, near Crystal Brook, in northern SA, on Sunday.

He succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Monday morning.

Father and son are both from Redhill, in the north of the state, where Mr Mumford works as a farmer.

Mr Mumford is survived by his wife Bronwyn and two sons Lachlan and David.

It is learned that a bystander suffered burns on his hands and arms after trying to help the men get out of the downed plane. They were taken to the hospital.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into the tragedy, with investigators expected to be on the scene on Monday.

“The ATSB has launched a transport safety investigation into an accident involving a Cessna light aircraft at Merriton, SA on Sunday afternoon,” the statement said.

Farmer Ben Mumford, 50, died in hospital on Monday after Sunday’s horrific plane crash.

The Cessna plane piloted by 50-year-old Ben hit power lines and crashed in a field on Mumfords Rd in Merriton.

“The ATSB is preparing to deploy a team of transport safety investigators with aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering expertise to the accident site on Monday.”

“Once on the ground they will carry out a range of evidence gathering activities including site mapping, examination of the wreckage and recovery of aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.”

The ATSB has also asked anyone with any information to come forward.

“Anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or may have video footage of the aircraft at any stage of its flight, to contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness as soon as possible be possible.”