A light plane landed with a thud, briefly became airborne again and then - its landing gear damaged - veered sideways out of control through an airfield fence before coming to rest metres from a home, a witness says.
One person on the plane - a two-seater Fly Synthesis Storch - was uninjured in the crash about 10.15am at Pauanui Beach Aerodrome, in Coromandel district, a police spokeswoman told the Herald.
But the witness, a commercial pilot, spoke to those involved and said two men were actually on board when the plane crashed.
"They weren't injured, just in a bit of shock."