Kiwi and Aussie killed in African plane crash

"Nothing gels" about a plane crash that claimed the life of a New Zealand pilot and his Australian colleague in Africa, says the head of the company that employed them.

Dougal Williamson, 37, was flying the Cessna when it crashed in Namibia on Thursday. Australian pilot Ian Payne also died.

The men were employed by Perth-based geographical exploration company GPX and were gathering data for the Namibia Government's geological database.

GPX managing director Pat Cunneen said the crash was "a bit of a mystery" because the pilots were not carrying out a survey at the time.

Survey work involves flying at 80m above the ground, he said.

"They should have been much higher than they were. There was no indication there was any engine failure because the plane was in good shape ... and it was under power when it crashed."

Mr Williamson joined the company a few months ago, after working as a charter pilot in Queensland.

Foreign Affairs said he had lived in Australia for many years.

Mr Cunneen said Mr Williamson was close to his family in New Zealand and in daily email contact.

"They're a close family. I've spoken to them at some length but certainly, [flying] was all [Mr Williamson] wanted to do. He has done other things, he's been a builder as well, but flying was his love."

Mr Cunneen questioned reports that the men were blinded by the sun, as he understood they were flying away from the sun at the time.

"There's some indication they were on a turn, going west back to east. In any case, when they made that decision to turn the sun was behind them, so that doesn't gel. I'm afraid nothing gels."

Mr Cunneen said New Zealand High Commission officials in Pretoria are arranging to have Mr Williamson's body flown home to New Zealand. Crash investigators are looking into the accident.