Executive summary
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.
Related Recommendations
Consider ways of educating pilots on a safe VFR procedure for negotiating localised cloud areas when the planned route involves crossing high ground.
Emphasise to all members and students and to other hirers of the aircraft the hazard of the Repia River low level route which led to this accident.
Emphasise that the minimum altitude that the route can be used legally is 3500 feet amsl.
Draw the pilot's attention to the limited circumstances under which low level bad weather routes can be used legally.
Draw the pilots' attention to their duty to ensure that their passengers use the safety harness provided.
Explore the practicability of requiring harnesses with an upper restrain facility to be available for each passenger in aeroplanes with an authorised maximum all up weight of less than 2250 kg.