New Zealand pilot, passenger killed in plane crash
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-23 11:17

A crop duster pilot and his passenger were found dead Wednesday in the wreckage of their light plane that crashed a day earlier in northern New Zealand, the company that employed both victims said.

The company, Super Air LTD., said that pilot Peter Beatty and fertilizer loader Greg Nash "are likely to have died on impact" after the wreckage was located in steep bush country west of the northern city of Whangarei early Wednesday.

Rescue Coordination Center spokesman Lindsay Sturt said a helicopter found the crashed aircraft late Wednesday morning and a rescuer winched down to the plane found the men's bodies.

The crop dusting airplane disappeared about midday Tuesday but wasn't reported missing to authorities until 12 hours later, search and rescue officials said.

Beatty, the father of two girls and a boy, had about 14,000 hours of flying experience, the company said.

Company spokesman Peter Mourits said the aircraft was returning to Whangarei after aerial crop dusting work north of the city.

Sturt said the airplane had crashed in very rough terrain and it was taking some time for a ground party to reach the wreckage.

The accident will investigated by authorities and Super Air will cooperate fully with them, he said in a statement.

Whangarei on North Island is located 820 kilometers (512 miles) north of the capital, Wellington.