Accident Overview
A pilot conducting a topdressing mission in the Te Karaka area was returning to his base in Gisborne when the accident occurred. En route, the single-engine airplane executed a steep right turn, then entered a dive and impacted terrain in a wooded area. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the pilot, who was the sole occupant, died.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage found no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunction or structural failure that could have caused the pilot to lose control. Investigators concluded that the pilot was suddenly incapacitated while in flight.
A post-mortem examination identified three separate medical conditions. Had these conditions been known to the Civil Aviation medical authorities, the pilot, identified as Alex Williams, could have been assessed as unfit for flying duties.