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Pilot Trevor Barrett died after his microlight crashed in Taringatura Hills in 2018.
A plane that crashed into a hillside had entered fog while flying too low, according to a report from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Trevor Barrett, 71, of Hamilton, died in a forestry block in Southland after his microlight crashed in Taringatura Hills, west of Benmore, on September 8, 2018.
On the day of the accident, Barrett left Alexandra around 8:30 a.m. to join a group of microlight enthusiasts for a group flight to Stewart Island.
When he was unable to arrive for the pre-flight briefing and post-flight to Stewart Island, the rescue coordination center began a search.
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The wreckage was found just before 4 p.m., about eight miles from the pre-flight information site.
The report found that Barrett was unfamiliar with the area and that a combination of confirmation and expectation bias likely influenced his belief that he was following the route other pilots had taken.
CAA Deputy Executive Director for Aviation Security Dean Winter said the security of the aviation system depended on everyone participating following the rules.
“If they fly ‘visually’ or VFR [visual flight rules] Instead of instruments, those rules include flying no less than 500 feet above ground level and not flying in bad weather. “
It was a timely reminder of the importance of thorough pre-flight planning, Winter said.
“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.”
The accident highlighted why pilots must comply with the rules and manage the risks associated with visual flight rules in deteriorating weather conditions, the report says.
The report was unable to say conclusively why Barrett chose to continue unfavorable weather below 500 feet above the ground.
