What happened
On a Saturday morning, a De Havilland Moth departed Sockburn Aerodrome with plans to fly to Wellington. Due to foggy conditions, the pilot diverted to Blenheim to wait for improved weather. After waiting through the morning without significant improvement, the decision was made to return to Christchurch.
While flying at a low altitude and hugging the coastline in poor visibility, the aircraft was approximately seven miles (12 kilometers) north of the Waipara River mouth when a cliff appeared ahead. The pilot attempted evasive action but lost control of the airplane. The aircraft dived into the sea roughly 250 yards from the rocky shore, nosed over, and began sinking upside down.
The passenger escaped his cockpit and assisted the pilot in exiting the aircraft. They used tires torn off during the crash as flotation devices to reach the shore. During the struggle to get ashore, the pilot struck his head on a rock. The passenger then traveled alone along the steep coastline to seek assistance. He arrived at Glenaffric Station homestead around 7 p.m., approximately five hours after the accident, and joined a rescue party.
Search efforts that night failed to locate the pilot. He was found dead the following morning. Medical examination determined that his death resulted from head injuries sustained in the crash.
Findings
The investigation noted that the pilot was flying at low height in bad visibility when the cliff appeared. The subsequent loss of control during evasive action led directly to the impact with the water. The pilot's fatal injuries were caused by striking a rock while attempting to reach the shore.