One dead in Northland plane crash

An aircraft pilot is dead after his plane apparently hit an occupied car in Northland this afternoon.

The crash happened about 3.55pm at One Tree Point, 6km northwest of Marsden Point and 38km southeast of Whangarei.

Ambulance northern communications team manager Ngaire Jones said one person died in the crash and three others were injured.

"The information we have is that the plane hit a car, and the three with moderate injuries were in the car," Ms Jones told NZPA.

Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Megan Ruru said initial indications were that it was a light aircraft but that had not been confirmed.

The plane was totally ablaze and it had set off a scrub fire in the area which firefighters were trying to extinguish.

- NZPA