THE Australian pilot whose light plane crashed in Papua New Guinea, killing six passengers, is known as "Captain Cautious", his son said yesterday.

Richard Leahy was carrying four adults and two children – all PNG citizens – in the Cessna on Wednesday when the engine failed over mountainous terrain in Morobe Province, on the north-west coast.

Richard Leahy ... a very experienced pilot.

Mr Leahy, 68, who runs local airline Kiunga Aviation, was rescued by a helicopter after sending out a mayday call. He was airlifted to Royal Brisbane Hospital late on Wednesday with a fractured spine and third-degree burns to the lower half of his body. He underwent surgery yesterday and remains in a critical but stable condition.

His son, Nick Leahy, said his father started flying at the age of 18 and had been a pilot in PNG for 40 years.