Sky Tower Piper pilot released by mental health unit

The man accused of stealing a plane and threatening to fly it into the Sky Tower was released from a mental health unit last week.

David Gregory Turnock was arrested yesterday and charged with stealing a Piper Cherokee Warrior plane from Ardmore Airport.

The 33-year-old former flight instructor allegedly stole the $100,000 plane just after 7pm on Saturday.

He was believed to be unhappy about his wife, also a flight instructor, leaving him and threatened to fly the plane into the Sky Tower.

Instead, Turnock crashed into the sea - minutes after 500 people had been evacuated from the Sky Tower.

The Herald has learned Turnock, who was taken to Auckland City Hospital after the crash with moderate injuries, has recently spent time in a West Auckland mental health unit.

Turnock is understood to have been released into the custody of his family after being granted leave from the unit six days ago.

A Waitemata DHB mental health services spokesperson said an earlier period of leave had been successful and Turnock was "thought to be doing well".

As a result he was expected to be officially discharged from the unit's care this week.

"The events over the weekend were unexpected."

Yesterday, as Turnock appeared in the Auckland District Court, two forensic health nurses sat in on his hearing.

Turnock stood quietly in the dock with his hands behind his back.

Police opposed bail and his lawyer did not challenge that, instead saying there were no beds available for him at a secure institution.

Judge Avinash Deobhakta remanded Turnock in custody for two weeks, saying "this is a matter which has caused quite a lot of concern for many people".

He added that there was a suggestion that Turnock might have wanted to harm himself due to his domestic problems.

Outside the courtroom Detective Sergeant Peter Florence said Turnock was likely to face further charges after police had liaised with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Turnock used to work for Massey University's School of Aviation, but left of his own accord about a year ago.

A university spokeswoman said the stolen plane was normally based in Palmerston North but was being housed at Ardmore Airport while in Auckland for the weekend.

It was procedure for planes to be left locked but the spokeswoman said it would be up to police to determine how entry to the aircraft had been gained. It was not housed in a hangar.

An Ardmore spokesman said owners, not the airport, were responsible for aircraft security.

Turnock's family said last night that they were not ready to discuss the case.