Accident Details
A twin-engine airplane crashed near Whitianga beach shortly after takeoff from Whitianga Aerodrome. During the initial climb, the aircraft went out of control, stalled, and impacted the ground near the beach. The aircraft was destroyed, and both occupants were killed. The flight was a delivery flight to Auckland.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the pilot was unable to cope with an in-flight emergency initiated by a power plant malfunction, which was compounded by poor weather conditions. As a consequence, the aircraft stalled and the pilot lost control at an altitude too low to effect recovery. Additionally, an autopsy of the pilot revealed acute interstitial myocarditis, a condition conducive toward destruction of cardiac muscle fibers. This silent disease is prone to cause irregularities in cardiac rhythm, fainting, and occasionally sudden death. The investigation noted that the possibility that the pilot had become physically incapacitated to some degree could not be entirely discounted.