24 Jul 2013

Coroner says pilot relied too much on navigational aid

10:40 pm on 24 July 2013

A coroner has found an 86-year-old Auckland man flew his microlight into the side of a mountain after he placed an over-reliance on a navigational aid instead of using his basic navigational skills.

Geoffrey Andrew Smale was making his first solo flight from Auckland's North Shore to Ashburton on 9 April 2011 when his microlight crashed into the north-western slope of Mount Duppa near Nelson.

In findings released on Wednesday, Coroner Carla na Nagara said Mr Smale was relying on an electronic flight information system that had incorrect terrain data, in contravention of flight rules.

That data indicated that Mr Smale was flying about 120 metres above the ground, but he was in fact approaching rising terrain 60 metres below Mount Duppa.

Ms na Nagara said had Mr Smale abided by the visual flight rules, he would not have crashed where he did.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson, Rex Kenny, said technology is a great tool, but pilots need to be aware of its limitations.