Gisborne plane crash victims named

Police have named the two men who died in a plane crash near Gisborne earlier this week.

The pilot was 37-year-old George Peter Anderson, of Gisborne and the passenger was 49-year-old Robert Solouota, also of Gisborne.

Thousands of households and businesses were without power after the plane crash on Monday.

Gisborne air controllers said a small aircraft - believed to be a P750 - crashed in the rural area of Hangaroa about 9am.

Farmers Air chief pilot Andrew Hogarth said one of its pilots and a loader driver on board the plane - both very experienced - died at the scene.

"We have notified the Civil Aviation Authority who will do a full investigation of the accident, so it is inappropriate for the company to comment on the cause," he said in a statement.

"We will be working with the authority and providing them with all the information we have."

The crash remains under investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Police's thoughts are with the families of Anderson and Solouota during this sad time.

The charred wreck of the plane. Photo / ONE NEWS

Eastland Network contractors repair part of the 800m of power lines brought down by the plane on Monday, cutting power to 20,000 homes in the Gisborne area. Photo / Eastland Power