Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Porgera

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1965
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
A4-202
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
202
YOM:
1964
Location:
Porgera
Enga
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Porgera Airfield, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and eventually collided with an embankment. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Kopaki

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CFS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
99
YOM:
1963
Location:
Kopaki
Waikato 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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Tarawera

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BIC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
30
YOM:
1956
Location:
Tarawera
Bay of Plenty 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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the vicinity of the Tarawera volcano while completing a spraying mission. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

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

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1964
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AVR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Armidale - Armidale
MSN:
741
YOM:
1954
Location:
Aberfoyle
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
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 in Aberfoyle when flying at low height, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight because a wing broke away due to the failure of a wing strut fitting.

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

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1964 at 1012 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BOA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Whanganui - Whanganui
MSN:
53
YOM:
1957
Location:
Wanganui
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 the holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence and had recently completed an agricultural flying training course at Wanganui. On the 6th of July, 1964 he was doing further practice flying to increase his experience in the FU24 before commencing agricultural flying work. He was briefed by the chief pilot to load the hopper of ZK-BOA with about 8 hundredweight (896 pounds /407 kg) of sand and to proceed to an approved low-flying practice area and familiarise himself with the feel of the aircraft at the threshold of a stall, but not to incur a full stall. This exercise was to be carried at a height of between 1,000 and 1,500 feet. The plane was seen by a number of eyewitnesses in the Mosstown area, about five miles from the airport, to be flying both low and slow. One witness, a 150-hour pilot, said he was perturbed by the height, speed, and type of flying being undertaken. He estimated the height to be between 150 and 200 feet while making low speed runs and turns, and at times the nose of the Fletcher would pitch down followed by an increase in engine noise. Impact with the ground was not observed by anyone, but one person who had seen the plane flying at between 100 and 200 feet heard the thud of the crash two or three minutes later.
Probable cause:
Evidence at the crash site showed the the plane had hit the ground in a steep diving turn to the left, leading to the conclusion that a stall had occurred in a turn and that the impact happened while it was gaining momentum in an uncontrolled left-hand spiral. Normally an FU24 would fly itself out of such a situation given sufficient height. ZK-BOA was totally wrecked in the crash, but fire did not occur. This was not a survivable accident. There was no evidence of structural or engine failure prior to the impact. The flying weather was CAVU and calm. The crash investigator concluded that the plane had stalled at about 200 feet AGL, and that the port wing dropped steeply and the aircraft struck the ground before control could be regained. It was also concluded that the pilots relative inexperience, both in total flying and in the FU24, was a major factor in this accident.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou in Nowra

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1964
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
A4-134
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nowra - Nowra
MSN:
134
YOM:
1964
Location:
Nowra
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Nowra Airport. On final approach, the airplane crashed short of runway threshold and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Brooklands

Date & Time: May 7, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BWC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
7
YOM:
1954
Location:
New Plymouth
Taranaki 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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Brooklands, in the suburb of New Plymouth. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Rotorua

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BXP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Roptorua - Rotorua
MSN:
73
YOM:
1961
Location:
Rotorua
Bay of Plenty 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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a local spraying mission. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89B Dominie in Milford Sound

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1964
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BAU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6654
YOM:
1943
Location:
Milford Sound
Southland Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the airplane went out of control and struck the runway surface before coming to rest. All three occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
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