The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the crash of a commercial aircraft at Takaka Aerodrome, north-west of Nelson.
A spokesperson says the single-engine Piper Cherokee operated by Golden Bay Air lost power as it was taking off and ran into a ditch last Wednesday.
The pilot and two passengers were not hurt.
The CAA says it is awaiting a full report from the pilot.
A spokesperson for the Takaka Volunteer Fire Brigade says it attended the scene but all the plane's occupants had emerged from the wreckage by the time they arrived.
