Herald Online
Pilot forced to ditch plane at sea
30.07.2004
By JULIET ROWAN
A pilot forced to ditch his plane in the sea north of Timaru was safe and well last night.
The 40-year-old Ashburton man escaped with minor injuries after crash-landing the light plane a short distance off the coast of Clandeboye, near Temuka, some time before 7pm, police said. He was the only person aboard.
The man managed to make his way to shore and call emergency services.
The cause and exact location of the crash were unknown, but the plane was believed to have hit the sea 200m to 300m offshore.
Ken Mitchell, spokesman for Airways NZ, said the details were sketchy because the man was flying in unmonitored airspace at the time.
He did not know whether the aircraft was a twin- or single-engine Cessna but air accident investigators had been advised.
-NewZealandHerald.co.nz