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

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-IDT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1559
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while engaged in a crop spraying mission. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 in Waipukurau

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-EMF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
257
YOM:
1978
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 engaged in a local spraying mission. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Kaipara Harbour: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BGQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Auckland - Kaipara Harbour
MSN:
1391
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Kaipara Harbour while on a flight from Mechanics Bay. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N22B in Manari: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2-DNL
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Manari
MSN:
39
YOM:
1977
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Circumstances:
Upon arrival at Manari Airstrip, the crew decided to initiate a go-around for unknown reasons. While climbing, the airplane banked left then nosed down and crashed near the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Point Cook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AGC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
2045
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Point Cook Airport on a local flight, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a PAC Cresco 08-600 in Maramarua

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-LTP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
001
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a test flight on this first PAC Cresco 08-600 prototype. En route, the pilot lost control of the airplane after the tail detached. The single engine airplane entered a dive and while the pilot was able to parachute to safety, the airplane crashed and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure of the tail in flight.

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

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-MLB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Captains Flat - Captains Flat
MSN:
1567
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While completing a local topdressing flight, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. It seems that the aircraft was working and part-way through an agricultural procedure turn, pulling probably 2G+ as normal, when the fin attachment bolts failed. The investigation concluded that apparently the fin and rudder had rolled through about 90 degrees and rested (horizontally) on the tailplane and elevator. The pilot would have been immediately deprived of vertical and directional control at that instant. Being at low altitude, there would have been no means of recovering, even if some vertical control could have been achieved. The wreckage was beyond economic repair and the aircraft was written off at that time. However, the investigation did lead to fleet-wide inspection of all fin attachment bolts and some worn/cracked bolts were revealed. An Airworthiness Directive was immediately issued and all the DHC-2 Beavers were grounded until the inspections and bolt replacements had been completed. While the Beaver was built as a rugged bush aircraft, it was subjected to repeated overload operations from rough agricultural airstrips and subjected to high aerodynamic G forces in every day of agricultural operations.
Source: Geoff Goodall.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the fin attachment bolts failed in flight.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950M near Carterton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CRX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Carterton - Carterton
MSN:
123
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located few km north of Carterton while completing a local crop spraying mission. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tau

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1979 at 1703 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N23BC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
431
YOM:
1974
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6979
Captain / Total hours on type:
1073.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tau Airport, the copilot failed to call out low airspeed. Following an improper level off, the airplane bounced on landing then veered off runway and collided with trees. All 18 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Hard landing and subsequent collision with trees due to improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- The copilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The copilot did not call out low airspeed on final.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Huabango: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ATU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
119
YOM:
1970
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Kamina, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain near Huabango, few km from Kamina. Three passengers were killed, among them a missionary, while seven other occupants were injured.