What happened
On the evening of the accident, a twin-engine aircraft with registration ZK-TZC departed Feilding Aerodrome on a visual flight rules mission toward Paraparaumu. The flight was operated by the pilot, who was accompanied by his two young sons. Following a pre-flight inspection that appeared normal to onlookers, the aircraft took off from runway 10.
Radar data indicated that after the initial departure, the aircraft climbed to 1,000 feet above mean sea level before turning left and descending back toward Feilding Aerodrome. During this return phase, the aircraft was observed at a low altitude, approximately 200 feet above the ground, as it joined a left downwind pattern for runway 10. Witnesses near the airfield reported various observations of the aircraft's behavior, including reports of a stationary left propeller and the sound of an engine under heavy load.
As the aircraft was executing a left turn at a low altitude, it departed from controlled flight. The aircraft rotated away from the aerodrome, pitched nose-down, and struck the ground. The impact resulted in 3 fatalities.
Findings
- Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude during its approach.
- One observer noted that the left propeller appeared to be feathered and non-rotating while the right engine sounded normal.
- An eyewitness reported seeing the aircraft nose up sharply before it suddenly reversed direction and struck the ground in a nose-down attitude.
- The loss of control during a low-altitude turn was the primary factor leading to the impact.