Two Bad Days for New Zealand Light Aircraft Fatalities
 

A Vans RV-12 went missing on the 15 June over the Coromandel Peninsula. After a search the crash site was discovered and the pilot was found to be deceased. This morning two light aircraft collided in Masterton on final approach to Hood airport. Both pilots were killed. One of the aircraft was a Skydive Wellington plane which was returning from dropping off parachutes. No information has yet been published on the aircraft types. Condolences to the families of all.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113...ndel-peninsula
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-...r-in-masterton

The skydive plane was Cessna 185A ZK-CBY.

Dreadful news.

I realise it's always the bad news that one remembers but after Fielding (2010) and Paraparaumu (2008?) I'd hoped never to read of this happening again.

I'm _not_ speculating here as I've no idea about procedures in Masterton but seeing this reminds me that elsewhere I've seen the Skydive operators tending to put nose down and straight in where possible after a drop, whereas others follow standard circuit patterns.

It's always concerned me that, particularly if you've got radcomm issues, or sun/blindspot problems, such mixed procedures are not especially compatible. IIRC two circuit patterns (Heli/Fixed) contributed to what happened at NZPP?

FP.

More info about the Masterton crash...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113...was-meticulous