CAA to interview pilot after small plane crash lands

A plane sits at Tauranga Airport after making a crash landing. Photo / Joel Ford

The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating a plane crash at Tauranga Airport.

Emergency services were called to the airport at 2.45pm yesterday to reports of a plane that crashed as it tried to land, a Northern Fire Communications spokesman said.

The small plane crashed on Runway 25, on the west side of the airport's main runway.

Tauranga and Mount Maunganui firefighters were called to the scene but were stood down before they arrived, the spokesman said.

It is understood the sole occupant of the plane was not badly hurt, although an ambulance was called.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokeswoman Melanie Bruges said the incident had been reported to the authority and it would be reviewing information to be provided by the pilot over the next few days.

"From there, the CAA safety investigation unit will decide if a safety investigation is required," Ms Bruges said.

"The reason for this is that we undertake safety investigations to determine if there is any significant safety risk or issue that may need to be passed on to the aviation community, or specific manufacturers [such as mechanical or electrical failure or fault].

"In this case, if the information supplied by the operator satisfies us that there is no such risk, we will not proceed further."