Two old friends from Auckland died in a plane crash yesterday after their recently purchased plane crashed into a paddock in what is believed to be a case of "a combination of bad weather and bad luck."

They took off from Paraparaumu at 9am, and were reported missing around noon after colleagues received mayday calls from them, and later on they failed to arrive at Dargaville on time.

The Auckland flyers were old friends who bought a plane only weeks ago. One of them was an experienced pilot, the other was in training.

The mates were flying back from the Ohakea Air Show in Manawatu when their Zenair Zodiac crashed into a paddock at South Head, north of Helensville, New Zealand Herald reported.

Flyers who received the pilot's mayday call reported it to the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington.

Pilot Richard Jowsey told the Herald the call was heard at the Parakai Airfield.

He [the pilot] said, 'Mayday, mayday, mayday.' He said his engine had failed and they were going to put down using the emergency landing procedure," Mr Jowsey said.

Mr. Jowsey, who doubted the crash was caused by pilot error, said the area is known for its strong wind conditions, but the pilot had picked the "perfect spot" to land. However, it appeared the wind did not cooperate with the flyers.

"It was probably a combination of bad weather and bad luck. It's horrible. It would have been a hell of a slam ... It would have been quick."

The mayday call was also received by Murray Foster, a friend of the crash victims, at the Dargaville Aero Club.

"They said it sounded like the guys, but it was very weak. I called them back on the radio to see if I could contact them ... I couldn't."

Mr. Foster said the men had been very excited about their trip away.

"It was their own plane. They only just bought it - they'd had it about a month or six weeks. [The pilot] had owned several planes before and he was experienced," he told the Herald.