Teenage pilot dies in light plane crash south-west of Sydney

A teenage pilot has died in a plane crash south-west of Sydney.

The Cessna 172, registered to a local flying school, crashed in a Brownlow Hill paddock about 3.15pm yesterday, 3km away from where it took off at Camden Airport.

9News understands the 16-year-old pilot had requested to land three minutes into the flight when the plane had reached about 1500 feet.

The pilot is believed to have lost contact with the control tower shortly after.

The alarm was raised when a second pilot, looking to land at Camden Airport, asked the position of the Cessna 172, with the control tower realising it did not know.

Audio from air traffic control captured the moment a pilot flying overhead spotted the wreck.

"I think we've got an aeroplane on the ground here ... it doesn't look good," the pilot can be heard saying.

"Mate, it doesn't even look like an aeroplane, unfortunately."

The pilot and sole occupant of the plane, believed to be a 16-year-old boy, died at the scene, police said.

The plane had completed two trips already that day.

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A bystander was first on the scene, witnesses said, followed by police, paramedics and fire and rescue crews.

The boy has not been identified.

Police established a crime scene that will be forensically examined.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and commenced an investigation into the crash.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.