A recovery mission is underway for the bodies of two people killed in a light plane crash on a rural road in the Northern Territory.
Police say the Cessna 210 had just left Darwin Airport at about 1.30pm on Monday when it came down near Howard Springs, 25km from the city.
Wreckage from the six-seater single engine aircraft was strewn across Gunn Point Road, with the plane's wings and body found 400m apart in bushland on either side.
Superintendent Tony Deutrom says it was a local charter plane company, and heavy rain at the time of the crash is being considered as a factor.
Supt Deutrom says it's been a traumatic task for investigating officers, and the next of kin are yet to be notified.
"Our thoughts are with the family and the friends of the people who have died today," he said.
Police have established two crime scenes, one containing the plane's fuselage stretching 200m.
They'll be in place until Tuesday afternoon, however the unsealed dirt road has been reopened.
Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are set to arrive from Canberra by midday on Tuesday, but Supt Deutrom says it'll be some time before they piece together what happened.
