Rescue chopper assists after plane crashes at farm airstrip in Taihape area

A plane crashed at the end of a rural airfield in Taihape. Photo / Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter

The occupants of a plane which crashed off the end of a rural airstrip managed to walk away unscathed.

The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was sent to the Taihape area at 9.20am on Saturday after a plane's beacon was activated.

Pilot Mike Garrett said the beacon activation was an automated alert which only happens when the aircraft goes through a sizeable impact.

"We went up there and found an aircraft which had gone off the end of a runway strip, not at a great speed or anything though .. they just over-ran the end."

The plane ended up coming to rest a short way down an embankment.

A plane crashed at the end of a rural airfield in Taihape. Photo / Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter

The two occupants had got themselves out of the plane and were walking and talking. If anything, the pair were probably more embarrassed about what happened.

"There were two individuals that were on the airstrip when we got there. They seemed fine, just a little shaken up ... I think it was probably a bit of embarrassment more than anything."

The occupants were on the phone to aircraft control informing them of what happened.

The plane appeared to still be intact despite its mishap down the bank, he said.

Chopper staff provide assistance to the ground team before returning to base.