What happened
During a mission to spread lime on a hillside in the Whitemans Valley, situated south of Upper Hutt, a single-engine aircraft was involved in a fatal accident. The pilot was operating the aircraft alone at the time of the event. While attempting to maneuver the plane within the valley to prepare for a subsequent sowing pass, the left wing and the undercarriage made contact with a small ridge.
Following this initial impact, the aircraft struck a fence, which caused it to cartwheel before plunging into the ground. The accident resulted in one fatality, as the pilot was killed in the crash.
Findings
- The sequence of events began during a low-altitude maneuver for agricultural purposes.
- Contact with terrain via the wing and landing gear initiated the loss of control.