Forensic examiners will set to work on the wreckage of a light plane that has been recovered off southeast Tasmania after a crash that killed two men.

More than a week after its nose-first plunge into waters near the Tasman Peninsula, the single-engine Cessna was raised from the 90-metre seabed on Tuesday.

Pilot Sam Langford, 29, and passenger Tim Jones, 61, were killed when the plane crashed on December 29.

• Tasmanian plane recovery delayed

After seeing the plane for the first time on Tuesday, water police Inspector Lee Renshaw said it was too badly damaged to try to open the doors, so the bodies remained in the cockpit as the aircraft was winched onto a barge and brought to shore in Hobart.

The barge landed at a secure berth late on Tuesday afternoon, and the plane will be examined by Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators on Wednesday.

“I’ve spoken to representatives of both families and they are very relieved we’ve managed to get their loved ones back,” Insp Renshaw said.

Mr Jones was photographing boats competing in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race when the crashed happened.

The crew of one yacht watched in terror as the Cessna banked and then dived nose-first into the sea, its tail disappearing beneath the waves almost immediately.

A recovery operation two days later was dashed when a rope snapped as the plane was being raised.

Poor weather caused further delays.

Before Tuesday’s recovery mission, police designed a sling system using strops to prevent a repeat of the failed attempt.

The plane was hauled upside down by its landing gear from the water just before 1pm on Tuesday.

Police will consider organising an at-sea memorial service at a later time.

-AAP