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THE pilot of an ultralight aircraft that crashed into the sea off a Sydney beach yesterday told air traffic control that his engine had failed and he was attempting a beach landing.

Pilot Gary Malane was killed en route from Ballina to Wedderburn airport, southwest of Sydney, when the plane issued a distress call.

Lightwing 5040: "Mayday, mayday, mayday, Lightwing 5040. Engine failure just north of, er, north . . . we’re going to try a beach landing."

Air traffic control: "Station calling Sydney radar, say again?"

After getting no response, the controller tried again and Mr Malane responded: "Lightwing 5040, we have a, er, engine failure." Then the radio went dead.

Spectators on the shore watched in horror as the aircraft spiralled into the sea off the northern end of Curl Curl beach, on Sydney’s northern beaches, about 10.15am and landed upside down.

Mr Malane was still strapped into his Lightwing SP 2000 aircraft as it sank in about 10m of water, but his 32-year-old passenger escaped and was last night being treated for spinal injuries at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Four people, including two policemen, risked their lives trying to save the pilot.

A witness who gave his name only as Travis said he and another man helped rescue the passenger, who was floating in the water.

Constable Jacob Gow and Chief Inspector Colin Green swam out to search for the pilot. "There was a person in the plane but due to the depth of the water and not having any diving equipment, we weren’t able to access inside the plane," Inspector Green said.

Superintendent Doreen Cruickshank said the plane appeared to get into difficulty as it was flying across the beach. "It nosedived into the water, it stayed on the surface for about two minutes and then) sank."

Another witness said the aircraft appeared be gliding and got into difficulties after making a 180-degree turn.

NSW Sport Aircraft Club president David Rittie said Mr Malane was a likeable member of the club who took part in social activities, but he was not a highly experienced pilot.