What happened
On 21 May 1995, a Piper PA 28-161, registration ZK-MBI, disappeared while flying from Gisborne to Napier as part of a solo training flight. The aircraft was last seen by a witness near the Urew/Urewera National Park boundary, flying steadily before turning northwest into the bush. For several years, the aircraft's fate remained unknown until hunters discovered the wreckage on 8 April 2001, deep within the Huiarau Range.
The aircraft had struck heavy tree trunks in a sub-alpine forest at an elevation of 3,500 feet. The impact sequence involved several severe strikes with trees before the fuselage came to rest on the forest floor. The wreckage was found approximately 35 nautical miles west of Gisborne, a significant departure from the pilot's intended flight path. The pilot was found in the left seat, restrained by a lap belt, and there was no evidence of a post-impact fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage site, which had been exposed to the elements for six years. The engine and nose components remained largely intact, though the propeller mounting bolts had failed due to the forces of the final ground impact. Analysis of the instrument panel revealed that the aircraft's master switch, fuel pump, and rotating beacon were all in the ON position at the time of the crash. The throttle was found nearly fully open, and the engine's mixture was set to rich.
While the aircraft's direction indicator had previously shown signs of excessive precession, investigators found no evidence that the instrument was malfunctioning at the time of the accident. Furthermore, the investigation ruled out pilot incapacitation, noting that the aircraft's movement—as observed by a witness—was consistent with active maneuvering. The investigation also looked into the possibility of a navigational error, noting that the pilot's map was found with the Gisborne/Napier area facing outward, though no specific notes regarding a course change were present.
Findings
- The aircraft had significantly deviated from its planned route, flying inland for approximately 20 minutes.
- The aircraft was likely in controlled flight when it struck the high terrain.
- The cause of the massive track deviation remains unknown.
- The pilot's ability to see the approaching mountainside may have been hindered by either local cloud cover or the intense glare of the low afternoon sun.