New Zealand | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine departed Christchurch Airport at 09h52 on a sightseeing flight to Milford Sound with four tourists and one pilot on board. The ETA at Milford Sound was schedules at 1237LT. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the five occupants was found.
Crew:
Brian Geoffrey Chadwic.
Passengers:
Darrell Stanley Sheils,
Louis Rowan, Elwyn Saville,
Valerie Gay Saville.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I off New Zealand: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2114 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

NZ278

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wigram - Wigram

MSN:

0500

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Wigram Airbase on a training exercise. While flying in poor weather conditions, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the New Zealand coast. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found.
Crew (1st ATS):
LAC Verdun Godfrey,
LAC Cecil Cook,
LAC Donald Paterson.