Nelson, New Zealand: Two people have died after a light aircraft crashed in a remote area south of Castor Peak in New Zealand’s Nelson region, according to New Zealand Police.
Police said they were notified just before midday that a plane was overdue. Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre managed the search response, with the aircraft later located in a remote area south of Castor Peak, near the boundary between the Nelson and Marlborough regions.
Nelson Area Commander Steven Collins confirmed the two fatalities, saying, “Two people have died in an aircraft crash in the Nelson region.” Police said recovery of the deceased and examination of the crash site were underway, with Civil Aviation Authority investigators involved in the examination.
The aircraft had departed Nelson Airport at about 9:10am. Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the aircraft was a Cessna capable of carrying four people and reached about 3,100 ft before dropping to around 1,800 ft and disappearing from radar near the Bryant Range, about 35 km northeast of Nelson. Those details have not been included in the latest Police release and should be treated as reported information pending confirmation by investigators.
Police have not yet released the aircraft’s registration, exact model, operator, intended destination or the identities of the two people killed. The cause and circumstances of the crash also remain undetermined.
The investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority, and authorities have not yet stated what caused the aircraft to crash.
