An uncertified pilot who flew a light plane with a passenger on board so low that bystanders thought it had crashed has admitted two flying charges.
Edward John Craig flew a microlight plane on February 20 as low as 18 feet (5.5m) above the ground near the beach at Pareora, 13km south of Timaru, while beachgoers looked on.
A search and rescue operation was launched because witnesses thought it must have crashed, the Civil Aviation Authority says.
Craig took to the skies despite not having a valid pilot certificate. His certification expired in April 2009.
He admitted charges in Timaru District Court of careless operation of the microlight and of operating without the necessary aviation documents.
CAA enforcement manager Rob Scriven says aircraft are not allowed to descend below 500 feet in areas such as the beach and by doing so Craig put the public, his passenger and himself at risk.
"When flying at heights as low as 18 feet, Mr Craig would not have had time to take avoiding action had a fault with the aircraft occurred," Mr Scriven said.
"Similarly, the fact that Mr Craig's pilot certificate had not been renewed means his hands-on flying skills had not been thoroughly checked every two years, as they should have been."
Craig was sentenced to 100 hours of community work, and has been disqualified from flying for two months.
NZN