Two people dead in microlight plane crash in Northland

January 1, 2018

Two people died when the light plane crashed on a dairy farm at Pouto near Dargaville in the Kaipara District.

The Civil Aviation Authority is launching an investigation into the plane crash in Northland this afternoon in which two people died.

The plane crashed on a dairy farm at Pouto near Dargaville shortly after 12.15pm.

Police say the scene is being examined by the Serious Crash Unit and the crash will be referred to the Civil Aviation Authority and the Coroner.

The Civil Aviation Authority says the aircraft type was a Vans RV 7. It was carrying the pilot and one passenger at the time of the crash.  

The CAA is deploying two safety investigators from Wellington to commence the investigation.

At this stage it is too early to say what may have caused the accident, said spokesman Mike Richards.

A witness arrived at the scene to see the light plane nosedived into a paddock.

The CAA investigators will arrive  tomorrow and will first meet with police and speak with emergency services who attended the accident, Mr Richards said. 

The safety investigators will review any photographs taken at the scene at Te Kopuru in Kaipara District and will also arrange to talk to any witnesses, he said. 

"Once the site is handed over from Police the investigators will move to the initial phase of the physical investigation, which will be undertaken at the crash site. The crash site will be secured overnight," Mr Richards said.  

That's what we saw spiralling out of the sky was the wing

—  Crash witness |

The CAA won’t have any further updates until after the Investigator in Charge has completed a site visit, likely to be Tuesday afternoon, he said.

A witness has told 1 NEWS she arrived at the scene to see the light plane nosedived into a paddock.

The woman said, according to the fire brigade the wreckage is scattered over about a 500 metre radius and she saw parts of the plane across the road, "which we surmise had fallen off before it crashed".

"That's what we saw spiralling out of the sky was the wing. That''s the first thing we saw."

The CAA would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the accident and they should call 0800 222 697.

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