At least one dead after light plane crash near Canberra

At least one person has died after a light plane crashed and burst into flames near Canberra.

The small single-engine aircraft crashed and caught alight at 3pm on a property in Hadlow Street in Gundaroo in the NSW Southern Tablelands.

Police are working to confirm how many people were on board at the time.

The Rural Fire Service has extinguished the blaze and police have established a crime scene.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified and will attend the scene.

9News understands the five-seater Cirrus SR22 took off from Canberra Airport just after 2.30pm.

The aircraft tracked south near Queanbeyan then flew north.

Six minutes later, the plane made a sharp plunge near Lake George with air traffic control unable to establish communications with the pilot.

There is heavy smoke in the area following the crash.

More to come.