One pilot is in a serious but stable condition in Dunedin Hospital after he was transferred from Lakes District Hospital, Queenstown. The other pilot sustained multiple fractures and is in Southland Hospital.
The pilots were on a training flight, with no passengers on board, in a Cessna aircraft, registration ZK-LAW, operated by Milford Sound Scenic Flights, in the Von Valley yesterday.
It appears the pilots got into difficulty when coming in
to land on an agricultural airstrip, near where the north and south branches of the Von River meet.
The Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand received a transmission from the aircraft's emergency beacon at 9.15am and two helicopters - one from Southern Lakes Helicopters, Te Anau, and one from Heliworks Queenstown - arrived with paramedics about 10.45am.
Both pilot and co-pilot were found in serious condition and taken to hospitals.
Sergeant Peter Graham, of Te Anau, said yesterday the plane was ''on its back, the engine's ripped clear, and it's broken in about three places''.
There would be no comment on the cause of the crash until the Civil Aviation Authority investigated, Sgt Graham said.
Civil Aviation was gathering information about the crash from the operator and the injured crew members, spokesman Mike Richards, of Wellington, said yesterday.
''It is unlikely that we will deploy a team to conduct an on-site investigation at this stage.''
''TAIC [Transport Accident Investigation Commission] has the first right to investigate. We're waiting to hear what they want to do and in the meantime we're gathering information from the scene.''
Milford Sound Flights is a joint venture between tourism giants Skyline Enterprises and Real Journeys.
Milford Sound Scenic Flights chief executive Jeff Staniland said yesterday the incident would be investigated, but ''our focus right now is obviously our pilots''.
''In respect of the circumstances, we will be suspending our commercial operations this weekend.
''It's been a difficult day for the team and their families here at Milford Sound Flights.
''Our thoughts are with our pilots at this time.''
