NZFF

A search is underway for an aircraft missing between Hamilton and New Plymouth after its emergency beacon went off.

Maritime New Zealand launched the search after a beacon signal went off about 7.30pm tonight, about three miles inland from Tirua Point, between Kawhia and Mokau.

The Cessna 152, a New Plymouth aero club plane, was being flown from the North Shore to New Plymouth.

The plane was reported to have a single occupant, a Maritime New Zealand spokesperson said earlier tonight.

The male pilot holds a commercial licence and was completing instructor training at the New Plymouth club, according to New Plymouth aero club vice president Bruce Findlay.

He was last heard from in a routine radio call at 6.50pm, 40 minutes before the emergency beacon was set off, One News reported tonight.

Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Co-ordination Centre has launched a Philips Search and Rescue Trust helicopter from Hamilton and police have been notified.

hope they find him ok! wouldnt wanna do a forced landing at night! especially in that area, tiger country (hilly and rough!) round there, have flown over it a couple of times and always made sure i was high enough that if i had an engine failure i could make the coast.

The search was started again this morning , a SAR team was flown into the area about 9 am ...
wouldnt be a very nice landing in the dark on those hills

Not good news I'm afraid...

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/pilot-miss...ed-dead-2860801

Condolences to family and friends...

Sorry to hear that.

RIP



LATEST: Police have named a pilot found dead this morning after his plane crashed en route to New Plymouth.

He was 28-year-old Ben Israel Gaastra from New Plymouth.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Ross Henderson said a search team had located the plane wreckage in rugged terrain 41km west of Te Kuiti at 10am.

Sergeant Andrew Ross of New Plymouth police confirmed they had found Mr Gaastra's body nearby at about 10.40am.

The plane - a two-seater Cessna 152 light aircraft - had been flying from Auckland's North Shore to New Plymouth.

Air traffic controllers last heard from Mr Gaastra at 6.50pm when he reported his location over Raglan, estimating he would reach New Plymouth in about an hour.

At 7.30pm the RCC received a beacon distress signal from the aircraft.

RCC tracked the beacon to a spot on land, 35km west of Te Kuiti.

A helicopter was despatched from Hamilton but could not get low enough to search the area because of cloud. After refuelling the crew tried again but the weather had worsened and the flight was abandoned.

An Air Force Iroquois helicopter from Ohakea joined the search but encountered the same problems.

Another Iroquois helicopter took a team of three search and rescue volunteers and police into the area this morning.

Mr Gaastra was described by police as an experienced pilot.

He was heading to New Plymouth to undergo instructor training at the New Plymouth Aero Club, the club's vice-president Bruce Findlay said.

Mr Findlay said the pilot held his commercial pilot's licence. > Stuff.co.nz

Another sad day for NZ aviation.

Seems way too many lately.

Condolences to family and friends.

RIP