Second fatal plane crash a mystery

MARK DWYER/Taranaki Daily News

PLANE DOWN: Taranaki police and search and rescue members at the scene of a fatal plane crash north of Stratford on Sunday afternoon. The Auckland pilot was on his way from Ohakea to Ardmore.

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A second fatal plane crash in Taranaki has claimed a third life in four days.

A middle-aged Auckland man died yesterday when his light aircraft, a Pitts Special single-engine stunt plane, nose-dived into farmland in poor weather conditions near Stratford about midday.

The name of the pilot would not be released until he was formally identified and next of kin informed, officer in charge of the search, Sergeant George White, of Taranaki Search and Rescue, said.

The solo flyer was piloting the privately owned bi-plane through the Stratford Gap on his way from Ohakea to Ardmore when it disappeared from the radar.

He may have become disoriented in the windy, cloudy conditions or possibly decided to turn back when the crash occurred.

The plane, which would have needed to refuel before making it to Ardmore, in South Auckland, was last spotted on the Wanganui radar at 11.50am, the National Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Lindsay Sturt said.

The centre put out an alert when the pilot's emergency beacon was activated at 12.15pm.

Weather hindered the search, twice grounding the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter, Mr White, of the New Plymouth police, said.

The crew finally spotted the plane from the air about 4pm. It was on the edge of a watercourse in a field near Tuna Rd, 8km north of Stratford.

The pilot's body was found next to the plane.

No-one had witnessed the crash, Mr White said.

A land-based Search and Rescue team also assisted in the search.

The Stratford Gap is well known as a danger spot for pilots who often use it as a north-south shortcut.

It has its own unique set of weather and environmental conditions, including a regular cloud bank.

On Thursday, Stephen John Chubb, 51, of Okaiawa and Neville Ronald Adlam, 70, of New Plymouth, both died when the gyrocopter they were in crashed near Hawera.

Eye witnesses spoke of a popping sound coming from the gyrocopter before the crash.

Civil Aviation Authority inspectors will today carry out an investigation into the bi-plane crash.

A post mortem is to be carried out today.

In 2005 a NZ Post Metroliner exploded and crashed near Beaconsfield Rd, near the site of yesterday's fatal crash.

- © Fairfax NZ News