AO-1990-094

The aircraft had departed Napier during the morning for a 90 minute round trip scenic flight to Mt Ruapehu. The aircraft failed to return. ELT signals led to discovery of the wreckage, in the afternoon, at the head of a blind valley. The aircraft had collided with trees in a manner consistent with a deliberate attempt by the pilot to minimise the effect of impact on the occupants. The circumstances suggested that neither of the rear seat passengers were wearing their lapstraps. The co-pilot and one of the rear passengers were dead when the first rescuer reached the aircraft. The pilot survived briefly but died shortly after being airlifted to hospital. The remaining passenger received serious injuries in the accident.