What happened
During an afternoon excursion, a pilot and a passenger departed from a group of students camping near a local airstrip to conduct a recreational flight. The pilot initially performed two passes over the airstrip from the northeast. Following these passes, the pilot executed a third low-level flight, approaching the group of students on the ground from the west along the center-line of the airstrip.
As the aircraft approached the group, the pilot turned the aircraft to enter the valley of the Matanganui stream. Shortly after this maneuver, witnesses observed the aircraft performing a wing-over. The aircraft then entered a nose-dive and disappeared from view, followed by the audible sound of an impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the sequence of maneuvers leading up to the impact. Witnesses provided accounts of the aircraft's movements, specifically noting the transition from the low-level approach to the wing-over maneuver and the subsequent loss of control. The investigation established that the accident occurred during a period of low-level flight intended to pass over a group of onlookers.