Region
Oceania

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:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Whenuapai
MSN:
13061
YOM:
1952
Location:
Blenheim
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
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 an Airspeed AS.65 Consul on Mt Ruapehu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1951 at 1144 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1902
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Wigram – Rukuhia – Ohakea
MSN:
3927
YOM:
1946
Location:
Mt Ruapehu
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons 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 completing a flight from Wigram AFB to Ohakea with an intermediate stop in Rukuhia, carrying a load of spare parts. While cruising at an altitude of 8,900 feet in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the east slope of the Te Heuheu peak located in the Ruapehu Mountain range. The wreckage was found about 50 feet below the summit and all three crew members have been killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced by the presence of clouds and it was determined that the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3549
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
16734/33482
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hobsonville
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 Consolidated PB2B-1 Catalina off Wellington

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4051
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
60958
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wellington
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Sank during takeoff into the Evans Bay in Wellington when seawater flooded aircraft. There were no casualties.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89B Dominie inn Rotorua

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1950
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-ALC
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rotorua – Hamilton
MSN:
6664
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rotorua
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was parked at Rotorua Airport and ready for its schedule flight to Hamilton Airport (Rukuhia). During engine start up, a fire erupted from the left engine and the fire spread to the dry grass. The aircraft caught fire and all five occupants were able to vacate the cabin before the aircraft would be completely destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire during start up.

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:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Whenuapai – Paraparaumu
MSN:
2382
YOM:
1943
Location:
Waikanae
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
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 an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Mt Ruahine: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1227
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Napier - Ohakea
MSN:
2609
YOM:
1940
Location:
Mt Ruahine
Hawke's Bay 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:
While cruising in the region of Hawletts Hut, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded area located in the Ruahine Mountain Range. All three crew members were killed. It is believed that the aircraft suffered a structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Mt Ruapehu: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1948 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AGK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Palmerston North – Hamilton
MSN:
1128
Location:
Mt Ruapehu
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with strong winds and rain showers. In low visibility, the aircraft christened 'Kaka' hit the slope of Mt Ruapehu and disintegrated on impact, killing all 13 occupants. The aircraft was off course at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to take the appropriate measures to follow the correct track. However, strong winds and the lack of radio navigational beacon was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off Oamaru: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1948
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AJW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Invercargill – Christchurch
MSN:
2046
YOM:
1930
Location:
Oamaru
Otago 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:
While cruising in foggy conditions, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea near the Waitaki River mouth, northeast of Oamaru. The dead body of the pilot and owner A. J. McIntosh was found on a beach a week later, on September 1st, 1948. Some debris of the aircraft were also found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Rununder Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1948 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AOE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Blenheim – Paraparaumu
MSN:
16383/33131
YOM:
1945
Location:
Port Underwood
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
About 15 minutes after takeoff from Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport, while on a cargo flight to Paraparaumu, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in Rununder Point, near Port Underwood, 32 km northeast of Blenheim. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Murdo McLeod,
R. J. R. H. Makgill.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
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