Missing NSW plane found crashed in forest

Rescuers have located a small plane almost 24 hours after it faded off NSW radar, but the condition of its two occupants remains unclear.

Rescue teams are searching for a missing NSW plane. Source: Facebook

The wreckage of a small plane missing since Friday morning has been found in the steep and heavily wooded forest near where it dropped off NSW radar.

But the condition of the two people on board remains unclear.

NSW Police are now attempting to reach the plane - about 27km inland from Coffs Harbour - after a helicopter crew located the plane at about 6.30am on Saturday.

Rain and low clouds extending to the ground prevented the helicopter being able to winch a person to the site, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

AMSA, which led the search, said the ground-level NSW Police effort to reach the plan would take "some time" as weather conditions remained poor and the terrain was steep and heavily wooded.

The light plane departed Murwillumbah in northern NSW at 6.30am on Friday and was scheduled to arrive in Taree at 8am.

AMSA was alerted on Friday morning by the pilot's associates concerned it hadn't reached its destination.

Its last known communications were about 7.30am.

Poor conditions also hampered search efforts on Friday afternoon.