AO-1992-020

ZK-PTS was on a private flight from Hastings to Ardmore via Hamilton, in company with another aircraft of the same type. The weather between Hawkes Bay and Taupo was overcast with a variable base, and scattered rain showers. Northwest of Napier the pilots found their intended route obscured by rain shower. The pilot of ZK-PTS declared his intention to climb above the cloud while his colleague elected to continue circling awaiting an improvement in the weather. The pilot of ZK-PTS subsequently reported his position at 5800 feet on the 283 radial from Napier and climbing. This was the last transmission heard from the aircraft. ZK-PTS failed to arrive at Hamilton. Later in the afternoon a searching helicopter located the wreckage of the aircraft on a ridge in the Kaweka Range at an elevation of 2900 feet. The pilot and passenger had been killed on impact.