Bodies recovered from Nelson plane crash site

The bodies of two people who died in a plane crash near Nelson have been recovered from the wreckage.

The Cessna 172P Skyhawk left the city's airport at 9.10am on Tuesday and was later found to have crashed in a remote area south of Castor Peak in the Bryant Range in the region's north-east. The plane, with the registration ZK-BFQ, was destroyed.

Detective Jonathon Evans said the bodies were recovered about 4pm on Thursday.

The Defence Force and Fire and Emergency helped in the recovery.

"It is with an incredibly heavy heart we wish to advise one of our aircraft was involved in an accident in an area of New Zealand's South Island," the company said, in a statement.

"Our thoughts are first and foremost with those directly affected, their families, and loved ones."

The Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission have been on site to examine the crash scene.

Transport Accident Investigation Commission chief investigator of accidents Louise Cook said an enquiry had been opened into the crash and two investigators were trying to find out what happened and why.

The investigators' first priority was evidence that could disappear or change, including the condition of the wreckage, electronic records and people's recollections, she said.

Further evidence-gathering included interviewing witnesses and obtaining flight-tracking data, cockpit recordings and radio communications. Investigators also gather information about the weather, plane's maintenance history, the pilot and planned flight.