What happened
A cargo flight traveling from Invercargill was conducting its final approach to Ryans Creek Aerodrome when the incident occurred. During this phase of flight, the twin engine airplane experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground before reaching the runway threshold.
The pilot was the only person on board at the time of the accident. Following the impact, the pilot sustained injuries, though no other fatalities were reported. The aircraft itself was determined to be a total loss and was written off following the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary factor in the crash was the loss of control during the final approach. This instability was triggered when the aircraft encountered significant turbulence and windshear conditions while descending toward the airfield.