Pilot found dead, three days on

The ultralight plane took off from Renmark, in South Australia's Riverland, on Monday but failed to arrive at Hay that afternoon.

The disappearance was not reported until about 6:00pm (AEDT) yesterday, when a concerned friend contacted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

The authority launched a large-scale search-and-rescue operation this morning, after a plane conducted a preliminary search last night.

Searchers found the man's body among the wreckage of the plane about 37 kilometres west of Hay, near the Sturt Highway, shortly after 11:00am (AEDT).

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Recreational Aviation Australia have been notified and police will prepare a report for the coroner.