Pilot Ian Douglas Sloan (59), also known as "Ned", died and his two passengers suffered serious injuries when his Cessna 172N hit the Arrowtown Golf Club course in a steep nose dive on October 17, the preliminary report by the Civil Aviation Authority said yesterday.
Lead safety investigator Colin Grounsell, of Wellington, said Mr Sloan carried out a low pass over the airstrip in a possible attempt to clear livestock from the area.
"The pilot then carried out a reversal turn and approached the airstrip to land from a west to east direction."
Mr Grounsell said video footage taken by the passenger in the front seat showed the pilot had to contend with moderate crosswind conditions and turbulence from higher terrain on the southern side of the airstrip.
"The aircraft is then observed to have touched down approximately 250m into the 450m airstrip, followed shortly after by the pilot applying full power and attempting to take off in the remaining runway distance available.
"Once airborne, the pilot commenced a turn to the left, which placed the aircraft further out of the prevailing wind direction.
The aircraft failed to gain altitude and entered a condition of stalled flight, rolling further to the left, followed by impact with the ground."
Farmer Roger Monk confirmed yesterday the airstrip he owned was in a paddock and was used by Mr Sloan "quite often".
Mr Sloan was "a great guy" who was very familiar with the airstrip, he said.
Asked for his reaction to the Civil Aviation comment on cattle present, Mr Monk said: "Everybody was aware of it, including Ned. It would not have been a surprise to him, no."
He said there was livestock on the airstrip when Mr Sloan took off in the morning. It was not uncommon for animals to graze on private strips. Five or six cows were grazing at the time, he said.
"Ned and I talked about the cattle and the fact whether he wanted it [cleared] or not and he said 'no, they're fine'."
Mr Monk said Mr Sloan had not communicated with him as he approached the strip.
Livestock had not grazed on the strip since the crash, but that was due to stock management, not the incident, he said.
"In future, perhaps I would limit the use of the airstrip." Civil Aviation senior communications adviser Emma Peel, of Wellington, said yesterday there was "no chance" the land or livestock owner would be liable to prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act.
Pilots were responsible for the safety of the aircraft and for the assessment of private air strips, which were used at the discretion of the owner, Ms Peel said.
"It's not uncommon for stock to be grazing on private air strips and pilots must check a strip before they land on it."
The two passengers, Mr Sloan's stepson and a 61-year-old female friend and fellow aviation enthusiast, were treated at Dunedin Hospital.
The Cessna airframe was released by Civil Aviation to the insurance company, which stored it in Wanaka. The engine was sent for a strip investigation to Flightline Aviation in Dunedin.
