Men in Tas light plane crash named
An experienced and well-respected sports photographer and a young pilot are missing after their light plane crashed into deep seas in southeast Tasmania.
Stunned Sydney to Hobart yacht race competitors looked on as the single-engine Cessna plunged nose-first into 90-metre deep water near the jagged rocky outcrops of the Tasman Peninsula on Monday about 6.20pm.
Pilot Samuel Peter Langford, 29, and photographer Timothy Jones, 61, both from Hobart, are missing and chances are fading of finding the pair alive.
From on board the deck of race competitor Mistraal a horrified crew witnessed the crash just 300 metres away, police said.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday ... we've a plane in the water," came the distress call from Mistraal, which is believed to have been photographed by Mr Jones just minutes earlier.
Mistraal was one of seven race boats to spark an immediate search for the aircraft.
An oil slick has been found in the area and race crews have fished items including aviation headphones and an aircraft headrest from the water.
Weather conditions were not ideal at the time of the crash, acting assistant police commissioner Tony Cerritelli said.
The pair were taking photos of the racing yachts.
"It was flying at around mast level and plunged nose-first into the water," Mr Cerritelli told reporters on Tuesday.
Police are co-ordinating a thorough air, land and sea search.
Marine rescue services inspector Lee Renshaw said the sea is too deep for divers and that sonar equipment is being used.
"We are pretty confident we can pinpoint the location of the aircraft," he said.
The seven race yachts which diverted to assist the search for the plane were praised by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore John Cameron.
"An ocean race is of secondary importance to the safety of people, and at the moment we are all thinking of those affected by this event," he told reporters on the Hobart waterfront.
Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman also commended the quick-thinking crew members.
"The Mayday call from Mistraal enabled emergency personnel to get to the area quickly," he said.
A police boat was on the scene within 25 minutes.
The search continues.
