Topdressing plane sparks callout

A topdressing plane sparked a police and helicopter call-out today after reports a light plane had crashed in Taranaki this morning.

Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansbrough said a motorist saw a light plane disappear over a hill near Mahanui, about 70km north-east of Waitara, followed by what they believed to be a cloud of smoke.

Police and an Air Rescue Centre helicopter were deployed but found no sign of a crash.

Mr Wansbrough said it was believed the motorist saw a topdressing plane working in the area but, being unfamiliar with such things, had thought the fertiliser it was dropping was smoke.

- NZPA