Region
Oceania

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Helensville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
414-3833
YOM:
1941
Location:
Helensville
Auckland 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 airplane departed Whenuapai Airport on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising at a height of 1,500 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn when the airplane stalled and crashed on a hill side near Helensville. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Eric Holdaway,
Sgt George Eatorne,
Sgt Eric Eldershaw.
Probable cause:
According to the RNZAF, weather conditions at the time of the accident were poor with atmospheric turbulences. The assumption that an engine failed was not ruled out. Following this accident, all RNZAF Lockheed Hudson were grounded to check all ailerons control systems.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Wigram AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1314
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram – Wigram
MSN:
3351
YOM:
1941
Location:
Wigram AFB (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:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Wigram AFB on a local solo training exercise. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the airplane suffered severe damage after flying through a hailstorm and lost height before crashing into the ground about 4 miles from Wigram. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Clifford Henry John Millar, pilot.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while cruising in hailstorm.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Gebbies Valley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ280
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Birdlings Flat - Wigram
MSN:
0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Birdlings Flat
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 twin engine airplane departed Birdlings Flat at 1355LT on a return flight to Wigram AFB. Ten minutes after departure, while cruising at an altitude of 900 feet in poor weather conditions (rain falls and low clouds), the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Gebbies Valley, south of Christchurch. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
P/O Alan Leslie Marshall, pilot and instructor,
LAC Ronald Stephen Brooker, pilot,
LAC Brian Patrick Fitzgerald, pilot,
LAC William Ian Lindsay, pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Westhaven Inlet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nelson - Nelson
MSN:
414-0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Westhaven Inlet
Tasman District 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 departed Nelson Airport on a three-hour survey flight within New Zealand. While cruising west of Nelson at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In reduced visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Westhaven Inlet. The wreckage was found seven days later and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John MacFarlane, pilot,
P/O Louis George William Volzke, navigator,
Sgt Keith Robertson Jack, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Phillip David Harris, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Upper Hutt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1245
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1940
Location:
Upper Hutt
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 mission on behalf of the 3rd Army Training Unit and departed Ohakea AFB at 1045LT. While cruising in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located between Upper Hutt and Waikanae, northeast of Wellington. As the crew failed to announce their position at the reporting point at 1315LT, SAR operations were initiated, but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found by a hunter on April 10, 1943.
Crew (3rd SFTS):
LAC Charles William Baker,
LAC Winston Stanley Cannel.
Source: http://www.parawaitc.org.nz/Other/Oxford1245.pdf
Probable cause:
The Court concluded its inquiry with the following findings:
1) From the evidence available, the Court can only assume that the loss of Oxford NZ1245 is attributable mainly to the bad weather conditions prevailing in part of the route to be flown.
2) The Court is of the opinion that the aircraft and equipment was in serviceable condition prior to the exercise.
3) The weather conditions immediately prior to setting out on the exercise were such that the Flight Commander was justified in authorizing the flight.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at Woodbourne AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1226
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
2606
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
Marlborough District 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 engaged in a night training flight. Shortly after take off from Woodbourne Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed five km from the airfield, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Felix Ulenberg, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Woodbourne AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1263
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
574
YOM:
1940
Location:
Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)
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:
The crew was performing a training flight for the second Army Training School. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 500 feet, the twin engine aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 200 metres past the runway end. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (2nd ATS):
LAC Wylie Hoog, pilot,
LAC Harry Roughton, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Waitara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1238
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ohakea - Ohakea
MSN:
2659
YOM:
1940
Location:
Waitara
Taranaki 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 airplane departed Ohakea AFB on a navigation training exercise. While cruising over the area of Waitara and completing a turn, the crew lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a hill, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Crew (3rd ATS):
F/Lt Harold Wiles,
LAC Norman Wilson.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I into Lake Ellesmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ252
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wigram – Wigram
MSN:
59
YOM:
1938
Location:
Lake Ellesmere
Canterbury 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 completing a local training exercise out from RNZAF Wigram. On approach to the airbase in relative strong crosswinds, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into Lake Ellesmere located south of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
LAC Ronald Brown,
LAC Norman Marshall.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at Wigram AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1941 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1296
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
547
YOM:
1940
Location:
Wigram AFB (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:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wigram AFB, the aircraft banked left and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot, who was performing a solo training flight, was killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
LAC Albert Maher, pilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after liftoff.
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