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The Civil Aviation Authority says a fatal ultralight crash in Southland highlights why pilots must abide by the rules and carefully manage risks.
Stock image of an ultralight.
Photo: Supplied
The authority has released its report on the crash that found the pilot crashed the microlight in Taringatura Hills after entering fog while flying too low in 2018.
The wreckage was found about 8 miles from where the pilot was supposed to meet other microlight enthusiasts for a group flight to Stewart Island after originally leaving Alexandra.
The report found that the risks associated with flying visually instead of using instruments when the weather deteriorated had to be carefully managed.
The authority’s deputy executive director for aviation security, Dean Winter, said the security of the aviation system depended on participants following the rules.
“If they fly ‘visually’, or VFR, rather than instruments, those rules include flying no less than 500 feet above ground level and not flying in bad weather,” he said.
The report did not conclusively say why the pilot decided to continue in unfavorable weather below 500 feet, instead saying that there were a number of factors that could have forced the pilot to move on.
Winter said it was a timely reminder of the importance of thorough pre-flight planning.
“It is standard aviation procedure to check the weather conditions at the destination and en route, and also to plan the flight so that the pilot can get there safely.”
