A PILOT has died after a light plane crash in Queensland.

The “kit-built” aircraft crashed just after midday at Palgrave, southwest of Warwick in the Southern Downs region and burst into flames, sparking a grass fire.

The pilot, who was the only person on board the plane, died at the scene.

A local farmer was the first on scene and called emergency services while trying to fight the fire himself.

Rescue teams initially struggled to get past the flames to the wreckage.

Darling Downs police district officer Acting Inspector Paula Smithard said: “I can confirm that around 12.15pm today a transmission was received that a light plane was experiencing trouble.”

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An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesperson said the plane involved was a “kit-built aircraft” registered with Recreation Aviation Australia, the ABC reports.

A local landholder created a fire break at the property to help contain the grass fire caused in the crash, a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson confirmed.

Aerial images show the plane was completely destroyed.

Police officers from the Forensic Crash Unit were inspecting the wreckage on Thursday afternoon.

Investigators and Recreational Aviation Australia officials will work together to determine the cause of the crash.