AO-1992-015

The pilot hired the two seat aircraft for a local flight with the intention of flying over Glenbrook where his passenger lived. A number of witnesses saw the aircraft flying in the area at a moderately low height and circling around. It particularly attracted attention when the engine sound was heard to change, described variously as throttled back, or stopping briefly, then increasing. The aircraft was seen to turn left from a southerly heading toward the north-east. It then went suddenly into a very steep dive while turning or twisting to the left. After two or three turns it recovered to level flight at a low height but almost immediately collided with a tree and cartwheeled to the ground. The pilot was killed and the passenger seriously injured in the impact.