New Zealand

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Te Anau - Queenstown

MSN:

6673

YOM:

1943

Location:

Queenstown

Otago Regional Council

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

About 15 minutes after departure from Te Anau-Manapouri Airport, the left engine vibrated then failed. The pilot continued his route to Queenstown-Frankton Airport when on approach, the right engine failed as well. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in the Shotover River located few km from the airfield. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 near Waiotira: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Fletcher FU-24

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-BIM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Northland Regional Council

MSN:

YOM:

1957

Location:

Waiotira

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft collided with a fenceline along the top of a minor ridge, with the port tail being badly damaged by a concrete post. A little further on, and at a lower level, the port wingtip struck the ground causing the plane to make a heavy impact in a totally inverted position. The airplane then slid about 100 feet (30 metres ) before coming to rest. A small fire stated but quickly burned itself out. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

he pilot attempted to fly across a ridge but misjudged the climb capability of his aircraft, and struck a fenceline marking the top. When the aircraft struck the fenceline it was in a partially stalled condition. Control of the aircraft was lost as the result of the collision with the fenceline. Inexperience of the pilot was a large factor in the occurrence of the accident.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-2 in Mourea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1966 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fletcher FU-24

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-CMJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Schedule:

Waerenga - Waerenga

MSN:

114

YOM:

1965

Location:

Mourea

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local topdressing sowing flight in the region of Mourea, north of Rotorua. While cruising at low height, facing the sun, the airplane struck a tree (27,5 meters high), causing the left wing to be torn off. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames about 100 meters further on. The pilot was killed and the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Investigations failed to reveal any mechanical failure and the airplane was properly maintained. It is believed that the pilot failed to see the tree due to the fact that he was flying face to the sun.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-52 in Auckland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1966 at 1559 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-NZB

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Auckland - Auckland

MSN:

45751

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17966

Captain / Total hours on type:

497.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4200

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

2275

Circumstances:

The aircraft was making the first take-off of a routine crew training flight at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand. Time of departure was 1559 hours New Zealand Standard Time. All five occupants were seated on the flight deck. Shortly after rotation, the starboard wing dropped, the aircraft failed to accelerate and gain height normally and side-slipped inward until the wing tip struck the ground. The aircraft then cartwheeled clockwise about the nose radome and progressively disintegrated. Initial impact took place 3,865 feet beyond the threshold and 97.5 ft to starboard of runway 23, the active runway. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

Probable cause:

The primary cause of this accident was,the incurrence of reverse thrust during simulated failure of No. 4 engine on take-off. That condition arose when very rapid rearward movement of the power lever (customary only on crew training flights involving simulated engine failure) generated an inertia force which caused the associated thrust brake lever to rise and enter the reverse idle detent. After lift-off, the minimum control speed essentially required to overcome the prevailing state of thrust imbalance was never attained and an uncontrollable roll, accompanied by some degree of yaw and side-slip in the same direction, ensued. When the condition of reverse thrust was recognized and eliminated,insufficient time and height were available to allow the aircraft to recover from its precarious attitude before it struck the ground.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Te Kuiti

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Fletcher FU-24

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-CAZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1962

Location:

Te Kuiti

Waikato Regional Council

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Mauriceville

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-CGW

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Greater Wellington Regional Council

MSN:

1547

YOM:

1964

Location:

Mauriceville

Country:

Region: