Plane Gets 'Beached' On Take Off

The pilot of a small plane has made an emergency landing at Mahurangi in front of startled beachgoers. The pilot then crashed in an attempt to take off again. The Jabiru J200 was on its first flight, from Ardmore to Whangarei, since a new engine was installed. The engine stopped mid air and the pilot had to glide the plane for three minutes before landing on Mahurangi Beach. A fuel problem is believed to have caused the emergency.