A pilot has died in a light plane crash at Lake Ellesmere in Canterbury, during a training flight last night.
Police worked with Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand to find the plane as well as a Christchurch rescue helicopter.
The person was found dead in the crashed plane around 11.20 last night by ground search crews.
The Canterbury Aero Club, of which the aircraft belonged to, today released a statement: "It is with great regret that we must report the crash of one of our aircraft on a routine training flight over Lake Ellesmere."
Ground search teams located the crashed plane at Lake Ellesmere late last night.
The club said it will be undertaking its emergency response procedure, which includes notifying family.
Police said the pilot was the only person in the plane and the wreckage is yet to be recovered from the dry lake bed at Lake Ellesmere.
The death is being referred to the coroner.
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