What happened
On the day of the accident, a pilot was operating ZK-KID, a high-performance homebuilt aircraft, in Alexandra to participate in a meeting of the NZ Amateur Aircraft Constructors Association. As part of the afternoon's scheduled activities, a small flight competition was conducted involving specific aerial maneuvers. One of the required exercises required pilots to perform a figure-eight pattern at an altitude of 500 feet above the aerodrome.
While executing the second half of this maneuver, the aircraft was observed to lose altitude while transitioning from a downwind heading toward a crosswind. During this turn, the aircraft maintained a steep angle of bank. The aircraft then rapidly entered an incipient spin to the right, ultimately striking the ground in an inverted 45-degree dive. The accident resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft during the figure-eight maneuver. Investigators examined the sequence of the turn, noting the transition from the downwind leg to the crosswind leg. The analysis established that the aircraft's descent and subsequent loss of control occurred during the high-bank portion of the maneuver, leading to the rapid development of a spin.