Rangiora pilot of missing plane found safe and well - now going hunting

The man was flying a Maule bush aircraft, which is designed for short take-offs and landings. Photo / Supplied

A pilot feared crashed after flying to a different high country hut than intended, was found by his would-be rescuers just as he was about to go hunting.

Grave fears were held for the Rangiora flight instructor after he failed to make contact after leaving Rangiora at 1pm.

But the man hadn't crashed and was found safe and well by a Garden City Helicopters rescue helicopter crew at 6.53pm.

Mark Smith, a shareholder in the aircraft the man was fying, said the man had told him where he was going but there was a failure in the gps system so they were unable to check if he had arrived safely.

The pilot had sent messages but they had not got through, Smith said.

Smith sent a private aircraft to check on the pilot but it was unable to spot him and light was failing so it turned back.

Smith then called the authorities.

"He was unaware all this was happening, assuming we'd received all the messages.

"It's obviously a bit of a dead area, for people to stay in touch.

"His intentions were clear and that had been relayed to myself, but there was a failure in the messages."

The pilot had landed his Maule bush aircraft, which is designed for short take offs and landings, at Andersons Hut, which is further north of Anna Hut.

Maritime NZ/Rescue Coordination Centre NZ spokeswoman Grace Loftus said: "The helicopter found him as he was about to go hunting. He was fine and he's sticking to his plan... he'll stay in the hut tonight and return [to Rangiora] tomorrow."

Lees Valley near Oxford, northwest of Christchurch. Photo / Google

She said by the time the man was found by a Garden City rescue helicopter, carrying a pilot, crew member and paramedic, they had been searching for some time.

A second Garden City rescue helicopter had also just taken off to join the search.

Loftus said it would be a week or two before the cost of the mission was known.

Asked if the Rangiora pilot would be expected to pay she said: "RCCNZ's priority is the safety of human life. We focus on the search and rescue operation first and foremost."

She urged aviators to be "very clear" when they shared their intentions.

"And make sure your communications devices are working, and you check in when you land."