KEY POINTS:
A top dressing pilot killed in a crash yesterday was "professional" and a "brilliant flyer", Taranaki locals say.
Crash investigators will today work to uncover what caused 48-year-old pilot Kevin Ross Brown's Cresco 750 to crash shortly after taking off in a paddock near Tarata, about 19km east of Inglewood, about midday.
Weather conditions were fine and he crashed into a hillside not far from the airstrip.
Mr Brown had been living in Stratford for the last four years working for Wanganui Aero Work Ltd, but was from Queenstown where his wife still lived.
New Plymouth photographer Rob Tucker had met him last week when he photographed the plane in action.
"I have photographed a lot of aviation in my career and... watching him work I came away knowing this guy knew what he was doing ... a brilliant flyer in the short time I observed him," he told the Taranaki Daily News.
Mr Brown had 17 years agricultural flying experience and had logged 12,100 hours in a fixed wing aircraft.
Tarata farmer Bryan Hocken said the crash was a "bloody horror story" and he was "gutted" to hear of Mr Brown's death.
Mr Brown had been working on his farm for about a week spreading 500 tonnes of lime.
"He was a neat guy, all of the farmers from around here loved him," he told the newspaper.
Mr Brown would be sadly missed by the community, Mr Hocken said.
"He had a good reputation as a professional and a tradesman in his job."
Mr Brown's body was removed from the plane about 4pm yesterday.
Taranaki Rescue helicopter pilot Rob Van Lieshout told NZPA the Mr Brown was dead when he arrived as first on the scene.
The plane had broken up on impact, but was pretty much in one piece with its wings still attached, he said.
"It's been a pretty reasonable sort of impact, I would imagine."
The weather was fine and Mr Van Lieshout said he was not sure what may have caused the crash.
The area was rural, made up of paddocks with moderately hilly to steep terrain.
"I don't think he's hit anything and then fallen out of the sky. He's certainly come to grief with the side of the hill, that's for sure."
Police were investigating and would report the death to the coroner.
The Department of Labour, Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission had also been advised.
- NZPA
