Report into Queenstown plane crash disputed

The Aviation Industry Association (AIA) and an airline operator are disputing findings over a plane crash in Queenstown last year

The AIA is now calling for the accident to be re-investigated.

An Air Fiordland plane with five passengers on board crashed after taking off at Queenstown aerodrome on October 10 last year.

A Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) report released today acknowledged that the pilot encountered wake turbulence on take off but blamed the presence of frost on wings for loss of control of the plane.

The tip of the plane's left wing struck the runway causing the plane to crash. No one was injured.

"Although the pilot had taken action to remove frost from the aircraft, a layer of frost remained on the wing upper surfaces for the take-off," the report said.

It said it was possible that wake turbulence from a preceding takeoff initially upset the plane but frost on the wings was considered the main reason for the loss of control.

TAIC also said the centre of gravity position was probably aft of the rear limit for take-off.

But Air Fiordland chief executive Russell Baker said today the TAIC report was incorrect in finding that frost on the wing was the cause.

"All the information available shows the aircraft took off with a clean wing and that the accident arose as a consequence of the pilot experiencing unanticipated severe wake turbulence from the preceding aircraft," he said.

His well-experienced pilot had acknowledged being taken by surprise by the wake turbulence from the preceding aircraft.

There was an obvious explanation for the ice nodules photographed on the wing of the damaged aircraft sometime after the accident.

"The airport rescue fire team had immediately sprayed the still sub-zero wing with water as a precaution and the air temperature was still below freezing.

AIA chief executive Irene King said TAIC should withdraw the report and re-open its investigation.

TAIC had been too quick to disregard his evidence and experience and that of other senior pilots who were surveyed about the effects of wing tip vortices in light aircraft, she said.

Ms King said AIA would like TAIC to withdraw the report and re-open the investigation "so that we can all be confident that the truth has been found".

- NZPA