Plane crash: Woman now in 'comfortable' condition

Anne and Alan Warner. Photo / Supplied

A woman who narrowly escaped from a light plane crash last weekend is in a "comfortable" condition in Christchurch Hospital.

Anne Warner, 55, was transferred south for treatment after she and husband Alan Warner, 58, walked away from their downed Zenith Zodiac CH 601-XL aircraft that went down in bad weather near Whangamomona, Taranaki, on Sunday night.

They were found near the upturned wreckage of the plane late on Monday morning after spending a cold night in the dense bush.

Mr Warner suffered moderate back injuries and was discharged from Taranaki Base Hospital on Monday night.

Mrs Warner remains in hsopital with chest and back injuries and the Canterbury District Health Board today confirmed she was "comfortable".

The couple, from Waitara, northeast of New Plymouth, were reported missing when their single-engine plane failed to reach Stratford Aerodrome, after taking off from Whitianga on Sunday afternoon.

A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched, however, poor weather and poor visibility hampered the search.

- NZME