Pilot, 44, dies after homemade plane crashes into a backyard

A solo pilot has died after crashing his home-built amphibious light plane into a backyard in the NSW Hunter region.

NSW Police confirmed the plane crashed short of a runway about 10.15am on Sunday and into the yard of a property on Denton Close in Windella. The street is next to the Royal Newcastle Aero Club.

The pilot is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be a 44-year-old man.

He was removed from the wreckage by witnesses but attempts to resuscitate him failed and he died at the scene.

Light plane crash in NSW
The plane crashed short of a runway about 10.15 am on Sunday and into the yard of a property on Denton Close in Windella. Source: 9News

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said firefighters were on the scene to clear fuel spills and hazardous material from the crash site.

One firefighter had been injured during this process and transported to hospital, with his condition unclear.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said the plane was an amateur-built Osprey 2 amphibious aircraft, possibly built by the pilot himself from a kit.

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