However, Mr Hagedorn — now branded ‘Biggles’ after his fictional flying ace hero — insisted today he had “done nothing wrong”, and had been following the instructions of air traffic controllers throughout.

And he revealed from his home in Chelmsford, Essex, it was “weird clouds” which had resulted in him burning more fuel than expected, prompting the unplanned deviation to Dundee.

After he ran out of fuel on a flight from Barrow-in-Furness to Kinloss, Mr Hagedorn’s plane ended up in branches 40ft above the course, and he spent the night in hospital with a head injury.

While there, he told how he had avoided built-up areas in the landing and recalled a story involving Biggles making a crash landing, but other pilots have disputed his heroism.

“So far, this guy doesn’t appear to accept any responsibility for the accident, but seems to revel in his own heroism at saving his neck and those on the ground,” said one anonymous poster.

“He hardly was a victim of an aircraft failure who braved all odds to bring his aircraft down safely.

“In fact, he appears to have created this accident by appalling airmanship and flying skills.”

Another said, “This chap is nothing other than a danger to himself and others. He needs his licence withdrawn and his head examined.”

Mr Hagedorn’s flight path took him into an area normally used by aircraft approaching Edinburgh as he crossed the Forth at between 9000 and 10,000 feet.

One Scottish pilot said, “The fact is, guys like this pose a greater danger to themselves than others, but it does the rest of us a disservice when anyone inadequately prepared takes to the air and has an accident.

“There are some very bright people who are just not cut out as pilots — that’s why aptitude testing can be so useful. We all know folk like this man, and we shouldn’t ignore their inadequacies as pilots.”

The fliers expressed relief that the 63-year-old, who has been a pilot for around four years, walked away from the drama relatively unscathed — he was released from hospital after being observed overnight.

However, there was speculation the Air Accident Investigation Branch would reach a number of findings following an inquiry, which has been launched.

A defiant Mr Hagedorn said, “As a pilot, I did everything I should have done.”

“My route was chosen in conjunction with the Dundee control tower, but nobody expected the engine to stop when I still had half an hour worth of fuel.

“The criticism is inevitable. These people are responding to news reports and they don’t know what actually happened — I did not run out of fuel.

“I had just enough fuel to get to Kinloss but what happened was that I burned my margin. I was flying above the clouds, which were broken so there was good visibility of the ground.

“But there were weird clouds, patches at different heights, and I got permission to fly at 9000 ft while I was going through Edinburgh airspace. The higher the altitude, the more fuel you burn.”

Mr Hagedorn said he was cooperating with the AAIB in its investigation, and that his statements would be confirmed by the aircraft’s equipment.

He said he believed the engine cut-out was caused by a problem with that particular type of aircraft when one of the tanks is empty, and that the incident would lead to all models being grounded for further investigation to prevent a repeat.

After being released from Ninewells yesterday, Mr Hagedorn returned to Caird Park to try and retrieve personal possessions which had been left in the plane.

However, he was unable to do so, and travelled south on the train wearing his hospital pyjamas and a high-visibility vest.

“After a while, people on the train started to recognise me and one struck up a conversation, asking what it was like to be in a crash,” continued Mr Hagedorn.

“I said it wasn’t a crash, it was a landing. If it had been a crash then I would have had my eyes closed and my arms up in the air!”

The company director added that he was still suffering from sore ribs, but he was feeling better after getting home and having a couple of hot baths.

NOT FIRST CAIRD PARK CRASH

Wednesday’s crash was not the first involving an aeroplane at Caird Park.

On July 28, 1943, two Hurricane fighters were on a training flight, 22,000 feet over the city, when one of the pilots blacked out — apparently due to oxygen starvation.

The Hurricane V7725 plummeted to the ground, and on impact left little but a smoking crater 60 ft deep, just off the Kingsway.

The pupil, a Sergeant Carpenter, was the 23rd pilot to die during training operations from RAF Tealing, which closed in June 1945.

— See also Readers’ Letters.