Pilot error or malfunction behind NZ plane crash

Pilot error or mechanical failure were the most likely causes of a 2010 tourist plane crash in New Zealand in which nine people died, a coroner found today.
The Fletcher FU24 plunged to the ground and burst into flames shortly after takeoff on September 4, 2010, near Fox Glacier on the rugged west coast of New Zealand's South Island, in New Zealand's worst air accident since 1993.
The plane operated by Skydive New Zealand was carrying a pilot, four skydive instructors and four foreign tourists, from Britain, Ireland, Germany and Australia. There were no survivors.
Coroner Richard McElrea found the plane, a converted crop duster, was also overloaded and off balance when it took off on a "near vertical" climb then apparently stalled before crashing.

"It is unlikely that the cause of the crash will ever be fully understood -- something unusual, such as inadvertent pilot error or engine malfunction/mechanical failure, has occurred at take-off," he said.
"This, coupled with the aircraft being overweight and loaded rearwards of its centre of gravity, is consistent with the evidence and has been the immediate cause of the tragedy."

The crash victims included five New Zealanders and the four foreign tourists.
McElrea said eight bodies were found in the plane's tail section, raising the possibility that they slid backwards during the plane's ascent, throwing off its centre of gravity.

He recommended fitting restraints on skydiving flights using the FU24 to prevent such movement and limiting the number of passengers to six.
The families of the four tourists who perished released a letter to Prime Minister John Key calling for tighter enforcement of aviation regulations operating in New Zealand's adventure tourism industry.
The families criticised what they said was a lack of accountability in the industry, pointing out that noone had been prosecuted over the accident.
"It has been said in New Zealand that tourists who come to take part in adventure sports 'know the risks" -- this seems to us an astonishing attitude," the letter said.

"It is incumbent upon the authorities to do everything in their power to make sure that all activities are as safe as they possibly can be.