As has already been widely reported in local and international media circles, Ardmore based Beech G58 Baron N254F crashed into the Tasman Sea off the coast between Raglan and Kawhai shortly after midday on 30 March as it flew south to Timaru. Sadly the high impact crash into the sea has claimed the lives of the two occupants.
The late model Baron, registered to Kiwi Lion LLC, arrived at Auckland from Kona via Christmas Island and Nadi on 27 October 2009 coinciding with the owner, Mr Eric Hertz, arriving in New Zealand to take up the role of CEO with then new entrant cellphone provider 2 degrees. The aircraft was later to be known to have visited (in chronological order) Queenstown, Nelson, Napier, Ashburton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Taupo, Wellington, Hamilton, Wanaka, Kerikeri, Wanganui, Motueka, Kaikoura, Paraparaumu and Palmerston North - and no doubt other locations during VFR flights.
The aircraft was involved in a landing incident at Raglan on 12 February 2012 when during its landing roll it encountered wind shear (a common occurrence at the coastal airstrip) and was extensively damaged during the overrun and encounter with the perimeter fence.
It was subsequently transported back to Ardmore for extensive repairs and was not seen by us for almost a year when it reappeared outside a local maintenance provider in December and flew south to Christchurch on Christmas Eve 2012.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and work colleagues of those lost in this tragic accident.
