Plane that crashed on Auckland road was on its maiden flight

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 had taken 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.