AO-1992-017

ZK-KID, a high performance homebuilt design, was owned and operated by the pilot who had constructed the aircraft himself. He had flown to Alexandra to attend a Chapter meeting of the NZ Amateur Aircraft Constructors Association. A "mini-competition" was held to round off the afternoon's activities. Part of the set exercises involved flying a figure eight pattern at 500 feet above aerodrome level. During the second half of this manoeuvre ZK-KID was observed to lose height while turning from a downwind heading to crosswind at a steep angle of bank. The aircraft "flicked" rapidly into an incipient spin to the right and struck the ground in an inverted 45 dive. Both occupants were fatally injured in the accident.