NZ couple survive plane 'write-off'

The pair took off from Queenstown. Photo / APNZ

Two people on board a light aircraft that crashed near Queenstown at the weekend walked away unhurt from a "write-off".

New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre (NZRCC) spokesman James Sygrove said said a beacon was activated at 12.10pm on Saturday.

A Heliworks helicopter found the shaken, but uninjured duo 10 minutes later.

The plane, understood to be a 1950s Piper Cub trainer, had taken off from Queenstown and flown to the Branches High Country Station, about 30km up the Shotover River.

It is understood the plane was owned by a Canterbury resident and, until recently, it had been stored in the Wakatipu Aero Club's hangar.

"There were two people on board. They were practising landings and take offs [on the air strip]," Mr Sygrove said.

"They had just taken off and [the plane] came down hard as they were still accelerating.

"They went through a fence and hit a bush, or a rock, or the fence and set off their beacon."

Mr Sygrove said the Heliworks helicopter found the pair, understood to be a man and woman, and "gave them a lift back to Queenstown".

The plane was described as "a write off", he said.

"The pilot said they were lucky to be alive."

The Otago Daily Times understands one of the occupants was Air Milford owner Hank Sproull.

When contacted last night, Mr Sproull declined to comment.

Wakatipu Aero Club spokesman Ian Webb said he understood the club had been notified by the NZRCC when the beacon activation was detected, but the club "didn't have anything to do with the aircraft as of a week ago".

"We're obviously grateful no one was seriously hurt." Mr Webb said.