A man has died following a light plane crash in Southland today.

The Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) advised Police around 12:45pm of a report of an overdue microlight just north of Nightcaps.

Southern Lakes Helicopter and Te Anau Police Search and Rescue reached the plane around 4:15pm, which was in the Taringatura Forest, west of Benmore.

Unfortunately, the sole male occupant was deceased.

His body has since been recovered from the site.

The Civil Aviation Authority has been advised and is expected to attend the scene tomorrow.

It’s understood the man was flying with a group of others and became separated from them.

Anyone who may have seen or heard a plane in the Benmore area this morning, please contact Alun Griffiths at Invercargill Police on (03) 211 0400.

Share this article
The link has been copied!