Shortly after take-off, Langslow was ordered to return to the airstrip because of high winds at his client's property. Due to thick fog near his airstrip, he extended the downwind approach and, while trying to manoeuvre around the fog, failed to maintain airspeed. That left the aircraft at a lower angle and flying at only 65 knots. The recommended approach speed is 75-80 knots for Cresco aircraft.
"This low approach put the aircraft on a collision course with a deer fence," CAA investigators said.
Langslow had also placed the fuel-condition lever in an incorrect position, leaving the engine with less power and resulting in the plane lacking the acceleration needed to avoid the fence. The aircraft hit it and the propeller sliced through the gate, becoming entangled in the fence wires.
"This acted like an arrester wire on the aircraft, pulling the aircraft up abruptly and stopping forward momentum almost immediately."
The aircraft's nose then slammed into the ground and threw Langslow and Mr Mackay forward. They hit their heads on the instrument panel. Both received severe injuries and were trapped in the aircraft, their feet "entangled" in the rudder pedals.
Mr Mackay's injuries included a fractured spine, broken arm, broken fingers and badly broken lower legs. The bones in both his feet were shattered and his left knee almost ripped off. His injuries were so severe that medical staff were forced to perform a tracheotomy (an incision into the windpipe) to assist his breathing.
Mr Mackay remained in Hawke's Bay Hospital's intensive care unit for three weeks after getting an infection from his wounds, and required six surgeries. His rehabilitation continues.
Langslow broke several teeth, had a broken eye socket, cheekbone, fingers, a badly broken arm, broken hip, dislocated left ankle and shattered bones in the lower legs. He required four surgeries.
Langslow told Hawke's Bay Today he was still "slowly coming to terms" with the crash.
"I still have quite a few problems to overcome," he said in regard to his injuries. He was unsure how Mr Mackay was doing. They were not in contact.
It was likely his flying days were over: "I'll just have to let it go".
When CAA investigators spoke to Langslow, he accepted the combination of flying low through fog, the fuel lever in the incorrect position and letting the airspeed drop had contributed to the crash.
He said he was "less than honest" when he began flying for the top-dressing firm and that when he provided copies of his pilot's licence and medical certificate had "omitted the side showing restrictions, deliberately".
On 14 occasions in early 2014 Langslow flew with a passenger.
Aerospread experienced "considerable financial loss" as a result of the crash. The aircraft was irreparable. A replacement was purchased and a $100,000 insurance excess paid. To date the total costs incurred by the company are $1.1 million.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh remanded Langslow at large until sentencing next month and ordered a reparation report.
