The Booleroo Centre man, 38, was the sole occupant of the Jabiru aircraft.

He received lacerations to his legs and chin, as well as suspected back/spinal injuries.

The pilot was initially taken to the Jamestown Hospital by local Ambulance volunteers before being air lifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by the Royal Flying doctor Service for further treatment.

Local Country Fire Service personnel contained the fuel leak from the damaged aircraft and declared the accident scene safe three hours later.

Jamestown Flying Group vice president and instructor Guy Bowley said the aircraft crumpled around the cockpit on impact, leaving it relatively intact, resulting in the pilot sustaining fairly minor injuries.

Mr Bowley said the pilot had been doing some flying practise using the flying group’s “one and only” aircraft which was used for recreational aviation.

The light sport Jabiru crashed to one side of the runway during a landing attempt.

The Recreational Aircraft Australia will manage the investigation.