The pilot of the small plane was uninjured in the crash. (ABC News)

The pilot of a small plane has escaped injury after crashing into a field in the New South Wales Illawarra region, 80 kilometres south of Sydney.

Emergency services were called to the field beside the Illawarra Highway at Albion Park Rail, near Wollongong, about 8:30am on Good Friday, to reports a light plane had come down.

“On arrival, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District located the pilot — a 53-year-old man — and sole occupant of the plane,” a spokesperson for NSW Police said in a statement.

“He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics as a precaution; however, is uninjured.”

The incident occurred about 200 metres from Shellharbour Airport at Albion Park Rail.

Aerial images of the crashed aircraft show the left wing of the plane severely damaged, as well as the left edge of the cabin.

A spokesperson for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the body that investigates air incidents and crashes, confirmed it is aware of the incident.

“The ATSB has been notified of an accident involving a Cirrus SR20 light aircraft near Shellharbour Airport this morning,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“We’ll gather further information prior to making an investigation decision.”