A plane which crashed in remote high country near Dunback, killing the pilot, had been repaired in Dunedin hours before take-off.
The wreckage of the privately owned single-engine Cessna 210 was found strewn below a ridge-line yesterday, after failing to arrive in Masterton on Wednesday night.
Feilding pilot Dave Jenkins, 59,
was the sole occupant. He had taken off after repairs to the plane at Flightline Aviation.
Auckland-based general manager Dave Webster said files of the work had been handed to Civil Aviation Authority investigators. He said there was no suggestion of blame to staff.
Mr Jenkins' body was taken from the crash scene yesterday afternoon. He was to have celebrated his 60th birthday at a party in Feilding today.
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said it was believed the plane had been for a test-flight before Mr Jenkins set off.
- NZPA
