The plane came down on a rural road south of Auckland
A pilot who walked away almost unscathed after his new microlight crashed on a busy South Auckland road had been taking his plane on its maiden flight.
An investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand into the June crash found it was the first time the pilot hadtaken the microlight to the sky since it had been made airworthy.
The tiny plane suffered engine problems and landed upside down on Runciman Rd in Pukekohe at 2pm on Sunday, June 11. The pilot walked away with moderate injuries and was taken to hospital.
But a desktop investigation into the crash by the CAA found the pilot had commenced the take-off run with insufficient distance to recover from any subsequent system failures.
The microlight aircraft after it crashed on Runciman Rd in Pukekohe in June. Photo / Jason Oxenham
When an issue with the fuel system occurred he did not have enough room to stop on the landing strip and the plane crashed on the road.
The aircraft was a Wittman Tailwind and just one of two of its type registered in New Zealand.
The CAA said because there was no risk or harm identified in the aviation system, no further investigation was carried out and no recommendations were made.
