Pilot killed in air crash named

A Cessna 152, similar to the one pictured, has gone missing during a flight from Auckland to New Plymouth. Photo / BOP Times

The pilot who died after his plane went missing last night has been named.

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

Rescue Coordination Centre spokeswoman Sarah Brazil said the wreckage of the Cessna was found at 10am by a ground search rescue team. The pilot's body was found about 40 minutes later nearby.

Ms Brazil said the team was lowered into the area by an Air Force Iroquois helicopter in rugged terrain, 41km west-south-west of Te Kuiti.

The plane was flying from Auckland's North Shore to Te Kuiti when it went missing.

Air traffic controllers last heard from the lone pilot at 6.50pm when he reported his location over Raglan, estimating he would reach New Plymouth about an hour later.

At 7.30pm the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) received a beacon distress signal from the Cessna 152.

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

Air Force spokesman Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki said the weather conditions were still bad this morning, with heavy rain and strong winds.

He said the Iroquois helicopter took off from Ohakea last night.

"We'll do whatever we can to assist the operation," Mr Tamariki said earlier this morning.

RCC spokeswoman Sarah Brazil said a team of three specialist alpine searchers were sent to the site.

She said the police had set up a base at Waikawau, only 6km from the beacon signal.

Last night a helicopter was dispatched 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.

Another Air Force Iroquois helicopter from Ohakea joined the search but encountered the same problems and is now on the ground in New Plymouth.

- with NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA