Small plane overdue; two aboard
The police and search and rescue personnel late last evening were searching for a light aircraft with two persons aboard that was overdue at West Melton airstrip.
Officials said the pilot is Michael Jack, of Auckland, and the passenger is Noel Ross De Lacey, also of Auckland.
The single-engine Auster aircraft, from Auckland, left from Kaikoura aerodrome at 6.30 p.m. It was due at West Melton at 7.30 p.m.
A search and rescue spokesman, Squadron Leader Don Haggitt, said the plane was thought to have an impact-operated emergency locator beacon on board.
No signal had been
received from the beacon early this morning, he said. The beacon had a wide range and a number of aircraft had been flying in the area since the aircraft was reported missing,
Airfields and airstrips between Kaikoura and Christchurch were being checked for sightings of the aircraft. The pilot might have struck rough weather and changed the flight path taken, which made the search area wide and difficult to cover, said Squadron Leader Haggitt.
The aircraft did not have a radio on board and so any change of flight plan could not be transmitted. If the aircraft had not been found, an aerial search would be started at dawn,
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Press, 13 November 1985, Page 1
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210Small plane overdue; two aboard Press, 13 November 1985, Page 1
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