A light plane has crash-landed in Adelaide's Victoria Park on the edge of the central business district, injuring four skydivers and the pilot.
The single-engined Cessna 182 experienced engine trouble and came down shortly after 2.30pm on Friday, with police lauding the skill of the pilot.
A witness said she saw the plane looping over the park from her backyard as the engine spluttered and then "conked out".
"It sounded like it was in big trouble," Meg, from Toorak Gardens, told AAP.
"It was choking and coughing and then conked out and started up again.
"And I said, `Just don't land on my house'."
Chief Inspector Alby Quinn said it was very lucky no-one was in the immediate area at the time.
"I must say the pilot has done an extremely brilliant job," Insp Quinn told reporters.
The aircraft landed nose down with its landing gear and propeller damaged on impact.
The men on board were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, including some fractures.
Investigators from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority were on the scene soon after the incident.
The plane was involved in a training exercise for parachutists competing in the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.
The parachuting competition is due to start on Saturday, based at Victoria Park, with the crash occurring on what is listed as the official training day.
The competition is only open to people with a valid licence from the Australian Parachuting Federation.
All competitors are required to hold a pro rating and must be aged over 30.
In a statement, the Australian Masters Games also praised the pilot for his efforts and said organisers were thankful all the passengers were safe.
They identified the four skydivers as a 62-year-old and a 55-year-old from SA, a 57-year-old from Victoria and a 63-year-old from Queensland.
It said any implications the incident would have for the future of the parachuting competition were yet to be determined.
