Rawlings, hailing from the Clive in the Hawke’s Bay region, was an instructor at the Hawk’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club.

Howell, a fully qualified and trained pilot from UK, was flying the plane when it bursted into flames mid-air. According to Bruce Govenlock, president of Hawk’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club, Howell wanted to acquire a New Zealand license for getting employment there. He also had to appear for pilot’s validation exam later in the day.

Govenlock also said that the last radio transmission from the plane did not show any sign of trouble. The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand is investigating the crash.

The post is an update of “Tomahawk PA38 Crashed in Hastings, 2 Dead“

The post Hastings Plane Crash Updates first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

A Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club-owned Tomahawk PA38 plane crashed at the riverbed near Maraekakaho, 12km past the aerodrome, in Hastings, NZ.

The incident happened at about 11 am on March 23, 2014.  Bruce Govenlock, president of the Club said it was too early to determine the cause of crash; it could be engine failure or a mechanical problem.  The weather was fine and the 30-year-old aircraft was very well maintained.

The eye-witnesses heard the engine of the plane making strange sounds before the crash; one of them described it as “coughing and spluttering.”

Those killed in the crash included an experienced club instructor and a visitor from the UK who was preparing for his pilot’s license validation exam.

The fully qualified pilot from the UK had been flying the single engine plane for half an hour before the crash.  He took off from Bridge Pa Aerodrome for practice.

The post Tomahawk PA38 Crashed in Hastings, 2 Dead first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.