A light plane has crashed shortly after take-off near Canberra, with a large emergency services presence at the scene.

A NSW Police spokesperson said it is understood 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, firefighters and ambulance are at the scene.

A light plane has crashed near Lake George, north of Canberra.
A light plane has crashed near Lake George, near Canberra. (9News)
A light plane has crashed near Lake George, near Canberra.
There is a large emergency services presence at the scene. (9News)

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.

A light plane has crashed near Lake George, near Canberra.
The plane crashed shortly after take-off. (9News)