Executive summary
At about 1320 on 10 November 2007, a Fletcher FU24-950EX aeroplane, registered ZK-EGV, was engaged in aerial top-dressing of a farm near Opotiki when it descended into trees in a small gully about 600 metres from the area being top-dressed. The pilot, the only occupant, was killed.
ZK-EGV was a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turbine-powered version of the Fletcher. No technical reason was found for the accident. However, the pilot was engaged in a lengthy cellphone conversation at the time of the accident, and that distraction and pilot fatigue were considered contributory factors in the accident.
The Commission recommended that the Director of Civil Aviation address the following safety issues identified during the investigation:
• the use of cellphones by pilots
• the procedure for checking of pilot competency on single-seat aeroplanes
• the installation requirements for emergency locator transmitters.
Related Recommendations
Address the practical difficulties of conducting competency checks for pilots of singleseat aircraft that have led to a degree of disregard for some aspects of the pilot currency requirements.
Address the safety issue of emergency locator transmitters sometimes being installed in a way that affects their crash survivability.
Address the safety issue whereby the Civil Aviation Rules are silent on the use of cellphones during critical phases of flight by pilots of aircraft operated under visual flight rules.