SYDNEY - Police on Wednesday discovered the body of a pilot who was killed in a light plane crash near Wollongong, south of Sydney.

Police found the body of Robert Greig, 57, with the wreckage of plane in bushland at about 8:00 am.

Police said Greig, a father-of-two, had taken off from a Sydney airport in the single-seater plane on Tuesday afternoon.

The discovery of the wreckage followed a widespread search after residents reported hearing a loud bang overhead on Tuesday night.

An ambulance helicopter searched from the air during the night, while police and rescue crew scoured the ground on foot.

Police confirmed the wreckage was found soon after the search resumed this morning.