Plane crash lands in lake | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Plane crash lands in lake
The float plane after crash landing
A float plane pilot was forced to make an emergency landing on Lake Rotorua after the aircraft's engine failed yesterday afternoon.
The pilot and two passengers were on the Volcanic Air Safaris float plane about 1pm when the Cessna 206 left Rotorua's Lakefront for a scenic flight.
The single-engine aircraft's engine failed just after take-off and the pilot landed the plane about 500m from the shore. No one was hurt.
The Daily Post was unable to ascertain how high the plane was when the pilot had to make the emergency landing.
Central Lakes fire service area manager Graham Fuller said nearby boats were able to take the three people ashore.
Rotorua man Wayne Rogers said he didn't see the plane hit the water but was amazed by the sight of it sticking out of Lake Rotorua.
Robert Grant was at Sulphur Point watching the saga unfold after being alerted by friends to the plane in the lake. He said it was "a bit of excitement".
"You don't see this sort of thing in little old Rotorua. It happens in other parts of the world but not here," he said.
Volcanic Air Safaris managing director Phill Barclay said the aircraft was moderately damaged in the landing.
"With the help of Kawarau Jet, the two passengers and the pilot were picked up from the aircraft and taken to the Volcanic Air Safaris office."
Mr Barclay said the passengers were back on shore within eight minutes of the incident occurring and the pilot and passengers were shaken but unhurt.
The company refused to say where the passengers were from.
Senior Sergeant Tony Colby said police and emergency services were alerted and the search and rescue crew sent out but not needed.
Mr Colby said there was some damage to the plane's float structures.
Civil Aviation Authority communications manager Bill Sommer said the incident could have been a lot worse.
"It was good that they had the lake to land in. Sometimes pilots don't have a lot of options when they have engine failure and the results could have been worse," he said.
Mr Sommer said the Civil Aviation Authority would be investigating but an inspector would not be sent to Rotorua.
"We will get a report from the pilot and other people involved, but in this instance I don't think we will be sending someone on site."
Volcanic Air Safaris operates from the Rotorua City Lakefront and Rotorua Airport. The company offers a range of scenic air tours of Rotorua and the central North Island.
Yesterday's incident is the fourth plane or helicopter accident in the region reported in The Daily Post in the past year.
additional reporting by Cherie Taylor
The pilot and two passengers were on the Volcanic Air Safaris float plane about 1pm when the Cessna 206 left Rotorua's Lakefront for a scenic flight.
The single-engine aircraft's engine failed just after take-off and the pilot landed the plane about 500m from the shore. No one was hurt.
The Daily Post was unable to ascertain how high the plane was when the pilot had to make the emergency landing.
Central Lakes fire service area manager Graham Fuller said nearby boats were able to take the three people ashore.
Rotorua man Wayne Rogers said he didn't see the plane hit the water but was amazed by the sight of it sticking out of Lake Rotorua.
Robert Grant was at Sulphur Point watching the saga unfold after being alerted by friends to the plane in the lake. He said it was "a bit of excitement".
"You don't see this sort of thing in little old Rotorua. It happens in other parts of the world but not here," he said.
Volcanic Air Safaris managing director Phill Barclay said the aircraft was moderately damaged in the landing.
"With the help of Kawarau Jet, the two passengers and the pilot were picked up from the aircraft and taken to the Volcanic Air Safaris office."
Mr Barclay said the passengers were back on shore within eight minutes of the incident occurring and the pilot and passengers were shaken but unhurt.
The company refused to say where the passengers were from.
Senior Sergeant Tony Colby said police and emergency services were alerted and the search and rescue crew sent out but not needed.
Mr Colby said there was some damage to the plane's float structures.
Civil Aviation Authority communications manager Bill Sommer said the incident could have been a lot worse.
"It was good that they had the lake to land in. Sometimes pilots don't have a lot of options when they have engine failure and the results could have been worse," he said.
Mr Sommer said the Civil Aviation Authority would be investigating but an inspector would not be sent to Rotorua.
"We will get a report from the pilot and other people involved, but in this instance I don't think we will be sending someone on site."
Volcanic Air Safaris operates from the Rotorua City Lakefront and Rotorua Airport. The company offers a range of scenic air tours of Rotorua and the central North Island.
Yesterday's incident is the fourth plane or helicopter accident in the region reported in The Daily Post in the past year.
additional reporting by Cherie Taylor
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