Region
Oceania

Crash of an Avro 616 Avian IVM in Willowbridge

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 616 Avian IVM
Operator:
Southern Cross Aviation Service
Registration:
ZK-ADQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
435
YOM:
1930
Location:
Waimate
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:
The pilot, sole on board, was forced to make an emergency landing in a field located in Willowbridge, southeast of Waimate. He was unhurt while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Tauranga

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1948 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AGJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Auckland – Tauranga – Gisborne
MSN:
1127
YOM:
1937
Location:
Tauranga
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft christened 'Kahu' left Auckland Airport at 1435LT bound for Gisborne with an intermediate stop in Tauranga. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and strong winds. The aircraft lost height and crashed in the Waipu Bay, less than 200 yards from the runway threshold. All 12 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
A. C. Harris, pilot,
G. E. Bruce, copilot.
Probable cause:
Caught by downdraft on final approach.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.12 in Paraparaumu

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH599
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Paraparaumu-Kapiti Coast
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in the Tararua Mountain Range: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1946 at 0710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4573
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Meteorological / Weather
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
6203
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tararua Mountain Range
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons 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 engaged in a meteorological survey mission and left Ohakea AFB at 0700LT. Ten minutes later, while cruising in the Waitohu Valley in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Tararua Mountain Range. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 4 crew members was found. On March 19, 1949, walkers found the wreckage of the aircraft in a wooded area located near Otaki.
Crew:
F/Lt Walter Jacobs,
F/Lt Sydney Langton,
W/O Hedley Newell,
AC1 Anthony Hayhurst.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Palmerston North

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3511
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2551
YOM:
1943
Location:
Palmerston North
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons 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 touchdown at Palmerston North, while on a delivery flight to Union Airways, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Ohakea AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2045
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
414-6443
Location:
Ohakea AFB (Bulls)
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the aircraft stalled, hit the ground, went out of control and eventually crashed on a construction vehicle. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were slightly injured while the vehicle's driver was killed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not proceed to any deice prior to takeoff while the aircraft (wings, tail and stabilizers) were contaminated by ice. This cause the aircraft to stall just after liftoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Auckland

Date & Time: May 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AHU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2490
YOM:
1943
Location:
Auckland
Auckland 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' stole the aircraft christened 'Karoro' that crashed on takeoff at Auckland-Mangere Airport. The aircraft went out of control during the takeoff roll and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It appears the pilot did not know piloting techniques.

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
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
Location:
Kaukapakapa
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
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:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
5532
Location:
Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
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 an Avro 652 Anson I in Makaranui

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ413
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
New Plymouth - New Plymouth
Location:
Ohakune
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:
0
Circumstances:
En route, while on a training flight from New Plymouth, the aircraft suffered a fuel exhaustion and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in Makaranui, near Ohakune. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.
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