Pilot's desperate last moves
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Pilot's desperate last moves
Air crash investigators will today begin piecing together the mystery of what caused an experienced pilot to crash his topdressing plane into a hillside near Tarata yesterday.
Kevin Ross Brown, 48, was killed when his Cresco 750 crash-landed in a paddock near Tarata, about 19km east of Inglewood, about noon.
The plane crashed shortly after take- off.
The pilot dumped his load at the end of the runway, indicating he knew he was in trouble.
Mr Brown was the sole occupant of the plane.
Farm worker Tony Clifton, who was helping load the plane, was the first on the scene after it went down.
He jumped into the Waitara River, with his work boots still on, and swam across to get to the plane while someone else called 111.
"It is not something you see everyday," a visibly shaken Mr Clifton said.
New Plymouth photographer Rob Tucker worked with Mr Brown last week, taking dramatic shots as the topdressing plane swooped over the Taranaki countryside.
"I have photographed a lot of aviation in my career and meeting Kevin for the first time on Thursday and watching him work I came away knowing this guy knew what he was doing ... a brilliant flyer in the short time I observed him.
"It really affected me today when I heard the news," Mr Tucker said.
Mr Brown was from the Queenstown area, where his wife still lives, but had been living in Stratford for about four years working for Wanganui Aero Work Ltd.
He started with Wanganui Aero Work in July 2004, as a temporary pilot in the Taranaki area.
Mr Brown had 17 years agricultural flying experience and had logged 12,100 hours in a fixed wing aircraft.
Emergency services, police, fire and a TDHB ambulance rushed to the scene but Mr Brown was already dead.
The Department of Labour, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) were advised of the fatal accident.
CAA investigators will visit the site today.
Tarata farming identity Bryan Hocken said the crash was a "bloody horror story".
Mr Hocken said Mr Brown had been working on his Tarata farm for about a week spreading 500 tonnes of lime.
Mr Hocken, on holiday in Palmerston North yesterday, said he was gutted to hear of Mr Brown's death.
"He was a neat guy, all of the farmers from around here loved him."
Mr Hocken said he would be sadly missed by the rural community.
"He had a good reputation as a professional and a tradesman in his job," he said.
Constable Darren Hayes, of Inglewood police, said the plane had been topdressing in the area for most of the day.
Mr Brown's body was removed from the damaged aircraft about 4pm.
Mr Hayes said police would be investigating the accident and reporting to the coroner.
Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter pilot Rob Van Lieshout, who was one of the first at the scene, said there was nothing they could do.
Mr Van Lieshout said it appeared Mr Brown could have known he was in trouble.
"It looks like he has dumped his load (of fertiliser) just off the end of the airstrip where he took-off."
Mr Van Lieshout said dumping his load would have been one of the first emergency measures Mr Brown would have taken after realising he was in trouble.
Pages of the aircraft's flight manual scattered the hillside but the damaged plane remained mostly intact.
"It looks like it was suffering the results of a heavy impact," Mr Van Lieshout said.
Wanganui Aero Work was established in 1950 and was a foundation member of the Aviation Industry Association.
The company specialises in aerial applications.
Pilot's desperate last moves - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz
Kevin Ross Brown, 48, was killed when his Cresco 750 crash-landed in a paddock near Tarata, about 19km east of Inglewood, about noon.
The plane crashed shortly after take- off.
The pilot dumped his load at the end of the runway, indicating he knew he was in trouble.
Mr Brown was the sole occupant of the plane.
Farm worker Tony Clifton, who was helping load the plane, was the first on the scene after it went down.
He jumped into the Waitara River, with his work boots still on, and swam across to get to the plane while someone else called 111.
"It is not something you see everyday," a visibly shaken Mr Clifton said.
New Plymouth photographer Rob Tucker worked with Mr Brown last week, taking dramatic shots as the topdressing plane swooped over the Taranaki countryside.
"I have photographed a lot of aviation in my career and meeting Kevin for the first time on Thursday and watching him work I came away knowing this guy knew what he was doing ... a brilliant flyer in the short time I observed him.
"It really affected me today when I heard the news," Mr Tucker said.
Mr Brown was from the Queenstown area, where his wife still lives, but had been living in Stratford for about four years working for Wanganui Aero Work Ltd.
He started with Wanganui Aero Work in July 2004, as a temporary pilot in the Taranaki area.
Mr Brown had 17 years agricultural flying experience and had logged 12,100 hours in a fixed wing aircraft.
Emergency services, police, fire and a TDHB ambulance rushed to the scene but Mr Brown was already dead.
The Department of Labour, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) were advised of the fatal accident.
CAA investigators will visit the site today.
Tarata farming identity Bryan Hocken said the crash was a "bloody horror story".
Mr Hocken said Mr Brown had been working on his Tarata farm for about a week spreading 500 tonnes of lime.
Mr Hocken, on holiday in Palmerston North yesterday, said he was gutted to hear of Mr Brown's death.
"He was a neat guy, all of the farmers from around here loved him."
Mr Hocken said he would be sadly missed by the rural community.
"He had a good reputation as a professional and a tradesman in his job," he said.
Constable Darren Hayes, of Inglewood police, said the plane had been topdressing in the area for most of the day.
Mr Brown's body was removed from the damaged aircraft about 4pm.
Mr Hayes said police would be investigating the accident and reporting to the coroner.
Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter pilot Rob Van Lieshout, who was one of the first at the scene, said there was nothing they could do.
Mr Van Lieshout said it appeared Mr Brown could have known he was in trouble.
"It looks like he has dumped his load (of fertiliser) just off the end of the airstrip where he took-off."
Mr Van Lieshout said dumping his load would have been one of the first emergency measures Mr Brown would have taken after realising he was in trouble.
Pages of the aircraft's flight manual scattered the hillside but the damaged plane remained mostly intact.
"It looks like it was suffering the results of a heavy impact," Mr Van Lieshout said.
Wanganui Aero Work was established in 1950 and was a foundation member of the Aviation Industry Association.
The company specialises in aerial applications.
Pilot's desperate last moves - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz
