Police investigate plane crash

As a result of the aircraft crash in the mountains by Lake Coleridge yesterday the Police are making enquiries on behalf of the Coroner into the two persons who perished in that crash.

The remains of two people were brought out from the crash site this morning and will be taken to Christchurch for a post mortem examination tomorrow afternoon.

At this stage Police are not in a position to release the names of either of these people now deceased but once identification has been completed then they will be named.

'If there is any member of the public who heard or saw the single-engine Piper aircraft either after it left Hokitika yesterday shortly before lunchtime or anyone who saw it in the area between Hokitika and the back of Lake Coleridge then the Police want to speak to them.

The aircraft was mainly white with a red and black stripe along the fuselage, around each of the wingtips and on the tail.

It had the letters 'LBJ' on each side of the fuselage as well.' said Detective Senior Sergeant Rae.

'We are eager to get as much information we can so that we can build a picture of what happened,' he said.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Senior Sergeant John Rae of the Southern Area investigation unit on 344 1819.