Concerns over flying instructor’s conduct raised years before student fatally crashed

Friday, 10 July 2026

Bernard “Rusty” Russell and his partner Penny with a gyrocopter in 2014. (File photo)

Concerns about the conduct of a flying instructor were raised years before he was stripped of his credentials after one of his students died in a gyrocopter crash.

Along with several complaints by members of the public about Whangārei-based instructor Bernard “Rusty” Russell which were lodged with the Civil Aviation Authority, the watchdog also previously investigated his conduct in 2015.

It can also be revealed by Marlborough Express that Russell was stood down as chief flying instructor at the Whangārei Flying Club in August 2019, after an assessment of its safety culture following several incidents involving him.

Seddon farmer Martin Pattie was well known within South Marlborough rural circles. He died in October 2023 during a maiden flight in his newly purchased gyrocopter. (File photo)

Russell had been teaching Marlborough man Martin James Dollar Pattie, 63, to fly prior to Pattie’s fatal crash on October 21, 2023 at Omaka Aerodrome in Blenheim. It was Pattie’s first solo gyrocopter flight, and he had only bought it the month before.

The crash was investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority, which found Russell had an invalid qualification at the time he was teaching Pattie to fly.

Russell had also signed off paperwork that said Pattie had completed his first solo flight and practical test when neither had been done.

Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale’s report said Pattie learnt to fly the gyrocopter over the course of a week, and completed 10.2 hours of dual training alongside Russell.

Before Pattie’s fatal flight, Russell was contacted, and he gave the go-ahead after receiving confirmation the conditions were good, and that the gyrocopter was in a good condition to fly.

Borrowdale’s report said once in the air, the gyrocopter was “almost at once in difficulties”.

It pitched up sharply, before drifting to the right as it gained altitude. It continued to climb steadily, until at 200 feet it rapidly rolled to the right and spiralled downwards.

In its findings, the Civil Aviation Authority found Pattie’s lack of sufficient training and experience were the main reasons for the crash.

It found he had not been adequately prepared for the difference in handling and performance characteristics between the training aircraft and the gyrocopter he was piloting on the day.

Emergency services at the fatal gyrocopter crash at Omaka Aerodrome in Blenheim in October 2023.

Another factor was Russell’s “non-compliance” with Civil Aviation Authority and Recreational Aircraft Association NZ rules for remote supervision.

The Civil Aviation Authority had since revoked Russell’s piloting and instructing certificates, finding that he was not a “fit and proper person” to perform those roles.

However, Russell was in the process of applying for a reconsideration of this status.

In its May 26 Official Information Act response to a series of questions about Russell, the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed it was considering his application.

This was against a backdrop of allegations against Russell that he had continued to fly, despite not having a licence, of which the watchdog said it was aware.

When the Civil Aviation Authority was contacted this week to check on progress regarding Russell’s status, it declined to answer, citing privacy reasons.

While he had not been associated with any other fatal accidents, the Civil Aviation Authority said it had previously investigated Russell in connection with a 2015 incident which injured a student parachutist.

It had also “received and logged” past complaints from members of the public about Russell.

Longstanding issues about Russell had also been highlighted by the Whangārei Flying Club, where he served as chief flying instructor from 2015 to 2019.

“Owing to a number of incidents with club aircraft involving Mr Russell, a group of club members expressed their concerns. On the initiative of the club president, a consultant was brought in to assess the safety culture at the club,” a statement said.

Emergency services at the scene of the crash at Omaka Aerodrome in Blenheim in 2023.

As a result, Russell was stood down as chief flying instructor in August 2019.

However, he continued on as an authorised training officer — a role that made him “answerable” to the Recreational Aircraft Association NZ, rather than the Whangārei Flying Club, the statement said.

The club was aware Russell had instructed Pattie in gyrocopter flying in a private capacity at the Whangārei Airport.

“Rusty Russell withdrew from club committee duties in May 2024 after representations by the club committee, pending the investigation by the CAA.”

Russell then stopped attending at the club, and took no further part in its affairs.

The statement said his club membership was suspended in May 2025 following the release of the Civil Aviation Authority’s findings in the wake of the fatal crash, and the pending coroner’s report.

When approached at his Whangārei home, Russell did not wish to make any comment.

Pattie’s family did not respond to requests for comment.