A PILOT walked away unhurt after the microlight he was flying crashed into a field near Selby and flipped on to its roof.

Police said the male pilot from West Yorkshire, who was the only person on board the club-owned microlight, was trying to make an emergency landing after a possible electrical fault.

He was heading back to Rufforth Airfield-based York Flying Club from Sandtoft, in Lincolnshire, but crashed at Cliffe Common, near the Osgodby and South Duffield crossroads.

John Greenwood, club flying instructor, declined to reveal the pilot's name, but said: "He is fine. He went straight home after coming back here."

Sergeant John Suchomski, of York Police, said the Air Accident Investigation Board and the Civil Aviation Authority had been informed and would be making further inquiries.

The crash happened at about 4.30pm yesterday.

Updated: 11:42 Monday, September 16, 2002