Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide on Mt Soho

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AKS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
6647
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was involved in an aerial photography mission out from Wellington. En route, the pilot encountered whiteout conditions and lost his orientation when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Soho located about 9 km north of Arrowtown, Otago. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Wiaotira

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BIU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
47
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while conducting a spraying mission. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Tinui: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1965 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CGS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tinui - Tinui
MSN:
802
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5400
Circumstances:
After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and struck a hedge. The airplane then climbed and the pilot attempted a turn to the left when the left wing tip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash. The pilot was killed and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Investigations could not determine the exact reason why the airplane encountered difficulties to gain altitude after liftoff. Nevertheless, it was reported that the impact with the edge damaged the elevators and tail control system, making the aircraft difficult to control.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Whenuapai

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-TEC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
2011
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Whenuapai Airport. Following several uneventful manoeuvres, the crew completed a new approach for landing when, on short final, the airplane sank and stuck the runway surface at a speed of 140 knots. On impact, the left main gear was sheared off and the airplane went out of control and veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the left wing was torn off and the aircraft came to rest in flames. All six occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that control was lost between the last segment and flare due to a wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Kopaki

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CFS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
99
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Tarawera

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BIC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the vicinity of the Tarawera volcano while completing a spraying mission. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

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

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1964 at 1012 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BOA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Whanganui - Whanganui
MSN:
53
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was the holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence and had recently completed an agricultural flying training course at Wanganui. On the 6th of July, 1964 he was doing further practice flying to increase his experience in the FU24 before commencing agricultural flying work. He was briefed by the chief pilot to load the hopper of ZK-BOA with about 8 hundredweight (896 pounds /407 kg) of sand and to proceed to an approved low-flying practice area and familiarise himself with the feel of the aircraft at the threshold of a stall, but not to incur a full stall. This exercise was to be carried at a height of between 1,000 and 1,500 feet. The plane was seen by a number of eyewitnesses in the Mosstown area, about five miles from the airport, to be flying both low and slow. One witness, a 150-hour pilot, said he was perturbed by the height, speed, and type of flying being undertaken. He estimated the height to be between 150 and 200 feet while making low speed runs and turns, and at times the nose of the Fletcher would pitch down followed by an increase in engine noise. Impact with the ground was not observed by anyone, but one person who had seen the plane flying at between 100 and 200 feet heard the thud of the crash two or three minutes later.
Probable cause:
Evidence at the crash site showed the the plane had hit the ground in a steep diving turn to the left, leading to the conclusion that a stall had occurred in a turn and that the impact happened while it was gaining momentum in an uncontrolled left-hand spiral. Normally an FU24 would fly itself out of such a situation given sufficient height. ZK-BOA was totally wrecked in the crash, but fire did not occur. This was not a survivable accident. There was no evidence of structural or engine failure prior to the impact. The flying weather was CAVU and calm. The crash investigator concluded that the plane had stalled at about 200 feet AGL, and that the port wing dropped steeply and the aircraft struck the ground before control could be regained. It was also concluded that the pilots relative inexperience, both in total flying and in the FU24, was a major factor in this accident.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Brooklands

Date & Time: May 7, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BWC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Brooklands, in the suburb of New Plymouth. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Rotorua

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BXP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Roptorua - Rotorua
MSN:
73
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a local spraying mission. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was written off.