Region
Oceania

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

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1956 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Aviation Enterprises (New Zealand)
Registration:
ZK-BHS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manunui - Manunui
MSN:
20
YOM:
1955
Location:
Manunui
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed from a farm-strip at 1325LT for a local topdressing mission, carrying 712 kg of lime. Fifteen minutes later, while flying at low altitude in a cul-de-sac, the pilot encountered difficulties to gain height. The aircraft then made a turn, struck a tree, crashed in flames and came to rest upside down. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot, Kenneth Simpson, was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the failure of the load to discharge from the hopper when the jettison was operated, thus depriving the aircraft of the necessary increase in performance to escape from the cul-de-sac. The failure of the hopper to jettison was caused by compounding of the lime content. The following findings were reported:
- Structural or engine failure did not occur,
- A decrease in climb performance occurred on the final flight due to inadvertent overloading of the hopper and change in wind conditions,
- Load failed to discharge when the jettison was operated.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Wairarapa

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AYT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
138
YOM:
1951
Location:
Christchurch
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Went out of control and crashed upside down in a field located in Wairarapa, in the suburb of Christchurch. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon in Invercargill

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1824
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04418
YOM:
1953
Location:
Invercargill
Southland Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Invercargill Airport, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop, overran and came to rest into a ditch. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after landing due to brakes failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon on Mt Shingle Slip Knob: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1955 at 1011 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1815
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
04398
YOM:
1953
Location:
Mt Shingle Slip Knob
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight and left Ohakea Airbase at 0917LT. Apparently while returning and flying over the Taratua Forest Park in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of Mt Shingle Slip Knob at 1011LT. The wreckage was found three days later few meters below the summit and both crew members have been killed. It is believed the aircraft was off track at the time of the accident and the crew was unaware of the presence of the mountain due the lack of visibility.
Crew:
F/Lt Edward Casey,
F/Lt William Trott.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Paraparaumu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1954 at 0923 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AQT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Christchurch - Paraparaumu
MSN:
15948/32696
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
NZA152
Location:
Paraparaumu-Kapiti Coast
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
12732
Circumstances:
On final approach to Paraparaumu Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. Then captain was able to restart the engine but the aircraft lost speed and height. While trying to climb, the aircraft banked right and hit a house, shearing off 12 feet of the right wing. The airplane passed between two houses and eventually crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed, three children were killed and all other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
- Either throughout the flight or a substantial portion of it both engines were drawing fuel from the starboard main tank,
- The selector valves or valve were moved after the engines cut out, and the valves, when found and checked later, indicated a final setting of each engine to its respective port and starboard main tank,
- The total fuel usage recorded for sixty hours of service by the engines of this aircraft prior to this flight establish that the fuel was used normally by each engine from each tank and there was no malfunctioning of the selector equipment,
- The failure of the engines of this aircraft was due to exhaustion of fuel in the starboard main tank, to which both engines had been selected,
- Having regard to the position and condition of the aircraft at the time of engine failure the subsequent accident to the aircraft was inevitable.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AXK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
89
YOM:
1950
Location:
Mangamahu
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a spraying mission when the accident occurred in unclear circumstances. He was killed in the crash.

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan IV in Ranfurly

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Miles M.57 Aerovan
Operator:
Hewett Aviation
Registration:
ZK-AWW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mossburn – Roxburgh
MSN:
6427
YOM:
1947
Location:
Ranfurly
Otago Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was performing a cargo flight from Mossburn to Roxburgh. While approaching Roxburgh Airfield, he was forced to divert because the airport was already closed to trafic. Few minutes later, due to fuel exhaustion, he decided to attempt an emergency landing in a farmland located in Ranfurly. While the airplane was damaged beyond repair in the accident, the pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
Forced landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon at Wigram AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1953 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1811
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
04321
YOM:
1952
Location:
Wigram AFB (Christchurch)
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the celebrations of the London - Christchurch Rallye anniversary. Two RNZAF Devon's registered NZ1810 and NZ1811 were engaged in a demonstration at Wigram Airbase. While approaching the airfield from the south at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided with their wings (it appears that the right wing of NZ1810 touched the left wing of NZ1811). Out of control, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a paddock located about 700 meters from the airbase and were totally destroyed. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew on board NZ1810:
F/Lt Edwin Pattison Booth Ebbett, pilot,
A1c Brian James Keogh,
A1c Eric Melrose.
Crew on board NZ1811:
S/L Sholto Russell Duncan, pilot,
A1c William Henry Sharman,
A2c Russell Woodcock,
Lt Erling William Ziesler.
Probable cause:
Wrong judgement on part of both crew members while flying in formation.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon at Wigram AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1953 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1810
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
04318
YOM:
1951
Location:
Wigram AFB (Christchurch)
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the celebrations of the London - Christchurch Rallye anniversary. Two RNZAF Devon's registered NZ1810 and NZ1811 were engaged in a demonstration at Wigram Airbase. While approaching the airfield from the south at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided with their wings (it appears that the right wing of NZ1810 touched the left wing of NZ1811). Out of control, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a paddock located about 700 meters from the airbase and were totally destroyed. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew on board NZ1810:
F/Lt Edwin Pattison Booth Ebbett, pilot,
A1c Brian James Keogh,
A1c Eric Melrose.
Crew on board NZ1811:
S/L Sholto Russell Duncan, pilot,
A1c William Henry Sharman,
A2c Russell Woodcock,
Lt Erling William Ziesler.
Probable cause:
Wrong judgement on part of both crew members while flying in formation.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83C Fox Moth near Patea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1953
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AQM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
FM.50
YOM:
1948
Location:
Patea
Taranaki Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After landing at Otautu farm field, the single engine aircraft failed stop and crashed in a river. The pilot was seriously injured and both passengers were killed.
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