Piper Cherokee Head-On Collision With SUV

Five peole are lucky to be alive after a freak head-on crash involving a plane and a four-wheel-drive ute. The light aircraft had just taken off from a South African runway when it plunged down towards a secluded road near Krugersdorp Airport, west of Johannesburg.

The Ford ute, carrying three people, was travelling in the opposite direction when the two-seater Piper Cherokee ploughed into it before bursting into flames, South African newspaper The Times reports.

Amazingly, no one was killed in the crash.

Pictures from the scene show the Piper demolished and burning, while only the engine bay of the ute appeared to be damaged.

Pilot John Thompson and George Carney, who trapped inside the burning aircraft for some time, were taken to hospital. They both were recovering from serious injuries, Mr Thompsons son told The Times.

Tony van Aswegen, who was sitting in the back of the ute, was thrown onto the road but escaped injury.

Monica Braganca and Anna Vaulina, who were inside the vehicle, were treated for shock at the scene.

Ms Vaulina, who watched the plane dive down towards the ute, reportedly said she thought she was done for.