In pictures: Amazing escape as skydiver parachutes in front of plane’s flight path

The skydiver’s parachute becomes tangled around the wing of the plane, dragging the skydiver behind it. Tim Telford / AP Photo / March 8, 2014

The parachutist is thrown clear as the plane nosedives into the ground. Tim Telford / AP Photo / March 8, 2014

The parachutist is thrown clear as the plane nosedives into the ground. Tim Telford / AP Photo / March 8, 2014

The nose of the plane crumples as it hits the ground. Amazingly, both the pilot and the parachutist suffered only minor injuries. Tim Telford / AP Photo / March 8, 2014

This remarkable sequence of photographs shows the moments just before and after a small plane collided with a descending parachutist at South Lakeland Airport in Mulberry, Florida.

The terrifying accident happened on Saturday as the 87-year-old pilot, Shannon Trembley, was performing take-off and landing manoeuvres in his Cessna, said Carrie Eleazer, a spokeswoman for Polk County sheriff’s office.

On his third landing pass, the wing of Mr Trembley plane became entangled in the strings of skydiver John Frost’s parachute, who had descended in the plane’s flight path and was just feet from the ground.

Mr Frost, 49, from Gainesville, was catapulted back into the air as the plane nosedived into the ground.

Both men were taken to hospital but, incredibly, neither of themsustained any serious injuries. Mr Frost was allowed home after treatment, while Mr Trembley was kept in for observation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the accident.