Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Whenuapai – Tauranga

MSN:

15204/26649

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

NZ441

Location:

Mt Ngatamahinerua

Waikato Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6639

Captain / Total hours on type:

5687.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

10014

Copilot / Total hours on type:

6694

Aircraft flight hours:

18629

Circumstances:

While descending to Tauranga Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Ngatamahinerua located 30 km west of Tauranga Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

A strong downward current in the lee of the Kaimai Range close to the Gordon quarry. This downward current carried the aircraft below the level of the crests of the range, where under the conditions prevailing at the time, the aircraft encountered an area of extreme turbulence in which it was impossible for the pilot to regain effective control and recover height. Contributory causes:
a) The captain of the aircraft was unaware of his true position and initiated a premature descent. However, it must be appreciated that he decided to descend only to the level officially designated as the minimum safe altitude in the area of his descent.
b) The decision of the Civil Aviation authorities to classify the Kaimai Range as non-mountainous terrain for the purpose of determining the safe altitude for the route.
c) The misleading forecast of the upper wind between Whenuapai and Tauranga.

Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M near Blenheim: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1953 at 0859 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

NZ5908

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Marlborough District Council

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Woodbourne - Whenuapai

MSN:

13061

YOM:

1952

Location:

Blenheim

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Woodbourne AFB in Blenheim, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to right when the aircraft entered clouds. Six minutes later, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Taylor Pass, about 12 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard Webb,
F/Lt James Brookes,
F/Sgt Phillip Diebert,
Sgt John Collins,
Sgt Thomas Dean.

Probable cause:

It was determined that Captain Richard Webb who was the commanding officer at Whenuapai boarded the flight at Woodbourne. He was not a qualified pilot on the Bristol 170 but was at controls when the accident occurred. It was established that he was seating in the left hand seat while the captain on this flight occupied the right hand seat as pilot in second. The departure was completed under IFR from runway 06 and the airplane entered clouds during the initial climb. Instead of continuing strait ahead over the Cook Strait, the airplane turned to the right over a mountainous area. Navigation instruments were not tuned to the correct beacon (Blenheim NDB), which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Hobsonville

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ3549

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Whenuapai - Whenuapai

MSN:

16734/33482

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing single engine approaches and landings at RNZAF Whenuapai. On approach, the second engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the bay off Hobsonville. All three crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Waikanae: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1949 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AKX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Whenuapai – Paraparaumu

MSN:

2382

YOM:

1943

Location:

Waikanae

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Paraparaumu was started in marginal weather conditions. On approach, at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Keruru' hit tree tops and crashed on the wooded slope of a mountain located in Waikanae, about 11 km from the airport. The wreckage was reached by rescuers two hours later. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by a faulty navigation on part of the crew who continued the approach at an insufficient altitude. Low visibility due to low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1945 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ3526

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Luganville – Whenuapai

MSN:

14562/26007

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute from Vanuatu to Whenuapai, the crew made a last radio call around 0900. While flying in marginal weather conditions (thunderstorm activity and turbulence), the aircraft failed to arrive and probably crashed into the south Pacific ocean. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
F/O Jack Hoffeins, pilot,
F/O Kenneth McArthur, navigator,
P/O Clifton Kennedy, wireless operator and air gunner,
Cpl John Jacobs, flight engineer.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Kaukapakapa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1945 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4518

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Whenuapai - Whenuapai

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training mission out of Whenuapai AFB when the twin engine aircraft collided with a RNZAF C-47 registered NZ3501 over Kaukapakapa. The crew of the C-47 was able to return to Whenuapai AFB with minor damages and landed safely. The captain of the Ventura ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field in Kaukapakapa. The pilot F/Lt William Farnsworth was killed while his crew was unhurt.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Whenuapai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1944 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4519

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Whenuapai - Whenuapai

MSN:

5532

Location:

Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)

Auckland Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a circular training flight at RNZAF Whenuapai. On final approach, the right engine failed. The captain increased the power on left engine and with full flaps, attempted a single engine approach. The aircraft banked right, went out of control and crashed into trees. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. He died a day later.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/Sgt Edward Brightwell,
F/Sgt James Pederson,
F/Sgt Archibald Alexander,
Sgt Harold Mauger,
Sgt Russell Robbie.

Probable cause:

The right engine failed most probably because the fuel selector was connected on an empty tank. It appears the pilot in command was not sufficiently trained to face up to such situation and his general experience was insufficient. When the control was lost on final approach, the left engine was at full power and the flaps were down, making the aircraft more vulnerable. These elements were considered as contributory factors, especially as the pilot had not been adequately trained to fly in such a configuration.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2066

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nausori - Whenuapai

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft left Nausori Airport at 0600LT with five other similar aircraft bound for Whenuapai, in New Zealand. En route, the weather conditions worsened and while in a thick cloud layer, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted for almost a week but no trace of the aircraft nor the seven crew members was ever found.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/O Norman Beard,
W/O Arthur Dunstan,
Sgt Thomas Carey,
Sgt Robert Gillespie,
P/O Ivan Johnson,
F/Sgt Thomas Ward,
F/O John Waugh.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2044

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: